Police give an update on the death of a Lower Hutt toddler.
Video / NZ Herald
The “broken” family of a toddler who died on Sunday after suffering blunt-force injuries want those responsible to “be honest” and “do the right thing”.
Detective Inspector Nick Pritchard said Ruthless-Empire, whose family asked for him to also be referred to by his maramatanga (enlightenment) name - Nga Reo, died as a result of blunt force trauma. Police believe he was injured up to 12 hours before he was taken to hospital.
The toddler suffered multiple injuries and police said they have been engaging with three persons of interest.
His great-aunt Sarah Reremoana told the Herald last night that she was “numb” after hearing what happened to the little boy.
Reremoana, who raised the little boy from birth until he moved to Hamilton to be with his mother in June, said the family were “broken into so many billions of pieces”.
“We have all the emotions in the world … But at this moment we know the police have done the best they can to give us this outcome of what’s happened to our baby - a murder, blunt-force trauma.”
“Our baby has suffered a lot of injuries. We’re angry but at this time our family would just like to think of our baby ... we just want to be worrying about loving him and kissing him and everything for him now.”
Her message to those responsible was: “Do the right thing”.
“We just want those people to walk into that place and tell the truth … we want them to be honest.”
The toddler’s mother was struggling to cope with his death, Reremoana said.
“She can’t even stand. She’s just as numb as us all.
“We’re trying to make sure that she’s got food, got everything ... we’re trying to make sure we love her and trying to let her process in her own way but she’s not coping.”
Reremoana also said New Zealand needed to do something to address child abuse.
“Child abuse needs to be sorted out ... For our baby, we’re going to make his legacy to try and stop this.”
Baby Ruthless-Empire died in hospital on Sunday. Photo / Ngatanahira Reremoana
Pritchard said police had spoken to those who were present when Ruthless-Empire, who he also called “Baby Ru”, was injured.
“This level of violence toward a child is difficult to fathom,” he said.
The nearly 2-year-old was unresponsive and died after being taken to Hutt Hospital on Sunday from a home in Taitā, police confirmed to the Herald.
Police have been at the property since Monday, with a forensic tent set up in the back garden. The home had several items of furniture and baby toys on the front lawn, as well as obscenities written on the windows.
Pritchard said police had engaged with three people, but they were not in custody.
One was a direct relative and the two others were part of the extended family, he said.
Pritchard said an autopsy had shown the toddler’s death was a result of blunt-force trauma, not wet wipes found at the scene. He could not answer if Ruthless-Empire had ingested any wet wipes.
He said police had, however, ruled that wet wipes had “nothing to do” with Ruthless-Empire’s death.
Pritchard said the three people were known to police.
“He was an innocent child who should’ve been safe and loved, and should not have died as he did,” he said.
He said police were engaging with Oranga Tamariki to understand the context of Ruthless-Empire’s death.
“I would urge anyone with information to come forward and talk to police if they know what happened inside the property,” he said.
Officers were still trying to understand why the family and Ruthless-Empire were at the house.
“We have engaged with all three persons of interest and we are getting varying degrees of engagement.
“Police are still gathering evidence. We’re not at that stage [to arrest or charge anyone].”
Reremoana earlier told the Herald she saw Ruthless-Empire about four weeks ago.
“Baby was running everywhere, wouldn’t let me go once he got me. But it was time for me to leave, he didn’t want me to go, he just wanted to come with me, I said ‘You stay with mum and nanny’ and we decided we would see him soon for his birthday today.”
She described Ruthless-Empire as “the most vibrant, happiest child”.
“He was bright, he had a beautiful voice, a beautiful smile.”
The toddler’s uncle and family spokesman Ngatanahira Reremoana earlier told the Herald Ruthless-Empire was a “happy and bubbly” baby who would brighten up any room with his smile.
He described his nephew as “our soul” and said the family was absolutely devastated, having learned of his death while they were gathered in church.
“We received this news whilst our church bells were ringing on Sunday that our Baby Ru had grown his wings and headed home to Torona o Iho [Throne of God].”
Sam Sherwood is a Christchurch-based reporter who covers crime. He is a senior journalist who joined the Herald in 2022, and has worked as a journalist for 10 years.
