Police investigating the killing of toddler Ruthless-Empire are seeking sightings of a car used to remove crucial evidence from the Taita house he was critically injured in.
The car is a grey-green 1994 Nissan Sentra with the registration TE6972. It was also the vehicle used to drive baby Ru to hospital on the day he died.
Detective Inspector Nick Pritchard fronted media on Friday morning saying police were continuing to engage with three people of interest - all of whom were in the car at the time it was driven to hospital.
However the car then returned to the address where baby Ru lived and items related to the investigation were removed, Pritchard said.
“After Ru was taken to hospital and before Police were able to secure the scene, this vehicle has travelled to and from the Poole Street address three times.
“Our investigations have established items of interest directly relevant to this homicide investigation, were deliberately removed from the property and have been subsequently concealed or have been disposed.
“Attempts have been made to clean and alter the crime scene before Police arrived.
“We believe the person driving the Nissan Sentra and possibly others are responsible for disposing of this evidence.”
Police investigating the death of BabyRu are seeking sightings of this vehicle on October 22, the day the toddler was taken to Hutt Hospital. Photo / NZ Police
Pritchard would not detail what items had been taken from the scene.
He said they were currently looking for CCTV footage to track the movements of the car, and were seeking sightings of it across the Wellington area between the morning of October 22 and the middle of the afternoon on October 24.
“We need the public’s help with reports of sightings of this vehicle, or home or CCTV footage, of the vehicle or people around it, anywhere in the Wellington region.
“We urge anyone with any information on this vehicle or who might know more about what happened to baby Ru to get in contact.”
Police have now seized and examined the vehicle.
Pritchard said police are in constant communication with the three people, who were providing varying levels of co-operation.
“I cannot say what their motives are for not giving us the full story,” he said.
“There has been progress, we have been interacting with them and others to build a picture of what happened that morning.”
Detective Inspector Nick Pritchard says police are seeking sightings of the silver sedan on October 22, the day Baby Ru died. Photo / Mark Mitchell
He said police returned to the address in Taita where Baby Ru lived recently to do further testing.
“To see this level of violence against a young child, it is really hard to fathom,” Pritchard said, noting it’s a difficult case for police staff to work on.
It is also tough on the wider whanau and police are working to provide support to them as best they can, he said.
Pritchard said they were now 20 days into their investigation, and “remain committed to finding justice for baby Ru”.
“This poor child suffered a violent death.”
Pritchard said all of the injuries Ruthless-Empire suffered were to his head.
“Our belief is that these were intentionally caused injuries to this child.”
When asked if he was frustrated that it has so far taken 20 days to get justice for the whanau of baby Ru, Pritchard said homicide investigations need to be pursued methodically.
The toddler was living at a home in the Lower Hutt suburb of Taitā with his mother Storm Wall, Rosie Morunga and her partner Dylan Ross.
On Tuesday, police could be seen back at the address. A police spokeswoman confirmed staff were present at the address “as part of the ongoing investigation into the death of the toddler, Baby Ru”.
Anyone with information on the case can contact police on 105 quoting file number 231022/1708.
Information can also be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
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.
