Ruthless-Empire’s mother claims she knows who killed her son

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

The mother of slain toddler Baby Ru claims she saw the moment her son suffered blunt force trauma to his head, and is now ready to tell police the full story.

On October 22, Ruthless-Empire Souljah Reign Rhind Shephard Wall died after arriving at Hutt Hospital unresponsive with severe head injuries.

The toddler, now known as Nga Reo Te Huatahi Reremoana Ahipene-Wall, was living at a home in the Lower Hutt suburb of Taitā with his mother Storm Wall, and Rosie Morunga and her partner Dylan Ross.

On Tuesday evening the Herald interviewed Wall for a second time. During the interview Wall gave a new account of how her son suffered his injuries and said she saw the incident.

The Herald has chosen not to publish the details at this stage as the homicide inquiry continues and Wall is set to be re-interviewed by police.

This piece of fabric was around Baby Ru's neck when he arrived at hospital.

The Herald earlier revealed a piece of fabric was allegedly wrapped around Baby Ru’s neck when he arrived at the hospital.

Wall said she first noticed the piece of fabric around his neck on the morning of his death, before she placed him into his highchair.

“I don’t know when that fabric was there, if it was previous that night or it was during, I don’t know.”

She said the fabric was from packaging from some bedding she purchased from the Warehouse a day earlier for her and Baby Ru.

Wall said she was “more than angry” about what happened to her son.

Asked what made her recall this information, she said: “I just want the truth out”.

“It’s been 44 days…”

Not disclosing the information had been “more than difficult”.

Police are appealing for information about a swatch of duvet cover.

“I’ve had every form of judgment everywhere, I haven’t even gone on any social media because I already know all the hatred within it and then everyone blaming me because I’m a mum…”

She cried as she said it “feels great”, to tell what she claims happened.

Wall earlier claimed in an interview with the Herald that on the evening of October 21 one of the people in the house told her to go to bed and that they would look after Ru.

About 10pm, he was put into her bed. Wall said he “looked normal”.

“I just gave him a last hug, just checking he’s all right.”

When she woke the next morning, he was “drowsy”. “I thought he was tired.”

She was getting ready to visit a cousin when she heard noises in the house. She claimed she was then told Ru was choking.

She tried doing first aid, “to see if he could get any form of phlegm or anything out and therefore he was getting his grasp of breath”.

Baby Ru died in hospital on October 22.

She then took him to the hospital.

Asked whether she had any part in her son’s death, she replied: “No, I didn’t.

“I just want justice for my son ... I want justice for my Ru Ru.”

Extent of Ru’s injuries revealed

The toddler’s great-aunt, Sarah Reremoana, earlier told the Herald that police said early on in the investigation he was killed by blunt force trauma which broke his skull, and that he suffered a brain bleed. She said police were unsure if a weapon was used, or if he was slammed into a table or floor.

“I slammed my hands on their table and screamed and could not imagine why people or anyone could do this to a happy innocent baby,” she said.

She said the whānau had gone from “A to Z in all sorts of ways” since the toddler’s death.

“We’re trying to cope, just making sure that we’ve returned to our regular lives. We’ve put the Christmas tree up... Usually, you’re supposed to be joyful around this time of year... but it’s just been a bit of a different one for us this year.”

The family were desperate for a resolution, she said.

“We all need answers.”

In response to questions from the Herald about the toddler’s injuries, police said they believed he died of blunt force trauma to the head.

The critical missing evidence

On Monday, Detective Inspector Nick Pritchard appealed for information on specific critical evidence.

“We believe that the items were deliberately removed from the Poole St, Taita property and have subsequently been concealed or disposed of.

“Attempts have been made to clean and alter the crime scene before police arrived.”

Police believe the people seen using a grey-green 1994 Nissan Sentra, registration TE6972, were responsible for disposing of this evidence.

An Eaton 5E UPS 650VA/360W power backup unit.

The Nissan travelled to and from the Poole St address three times after Ru was taken to hospital on October 22 and before police were able to secure the scene.

Police are appealing for information on a Provision-ISR NVR5-8200PX+ DRV unit, an Eaton 5E UPS 650VA/360W power backup unit and 2 x NZ Outlets as well as a swatch of duvet cover.

Police were also seeking information about the piece of fabric tied around Ru’s neck.

“Although not a direct cause of his death, the fact that such an item was around his neck is incredibly concerning and we appeal for information from anyone who has seen this item or what it was used for,” Pritchard said.

“The co-operation of our three people of interest is vital to us understanding the truth of what happened to Baby Ru, and ultimately holding those responsible to account.”

Pritchard earlier told the Herald that police were still waiting on toxicology results to come back in relation to the toddler as well as forensic analysis on several items taken from the property where he suffered the fatal injuries.

He said police believed the toddler suffered his injuries on the morning of his death when all three persons of interest were home.

He said the case had a number of complexities, which made the investigation challenging.

Detective Inspector Nick Pritchard confirmed to the Herald a hard drive police are seeking was used to record CCTV footage from the property.

“From what we’ve established there is information that they collectively will have that they have not provided to us.”

His message to the trio was to tell the truth.

“You know what happened. It’s a young child, it’s a horrible thing that’s happened and we just want the truth to be able to give some closure to the family.”

Police investigating the death of Baby Ru are seeking sightings of this vehicle on October 22, the day he was taken to Hutt Hospital. Photo / NZ Police

He said police believed the toddler suffered his injuries on the morning of his death when all three persons of interest were home.

“We’re keeping an open mind in terms of what may have caused the injuries, but we are in ongoing consultation with various medical specialists who are trying to determine what that might be, but at this stage, it’s an open mind in terms of what caused the blunt force trauma.”

Dylan Ross, Rosie Morunga, and Storm Angel Wall

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.