A woman who was critically injured in an assault at her Western Heights, Rotorua home in September has died.

Police said the woman and her husband were seriously assaulted on September 23 and had been in hospital since then.

“Tragically, the woman passed away on the evening of October 5,” a police spokesperson says.

“A 52-year-old man who was arrested and charged with murder in relation to a linked incident at an Utuhina property will now be facing a second murder charge.”

Police said the man is remanded in custody and is scheduled to reappear in Rotorua High Court on October 18.