Murder and manslaughter accused deny charges related to Whakatāne death of Rickah’Shae Keefe-Haerewa

Pauline Timu (left) and Maya Hati have been charged in relation to the death of 8-year-old Rickah'Shae Keefe-Haerewa, who police alleged died following an assault in November 2024. Composite Photo / NZME

Warning: This story deals with the death of a child and may be distressing.

Two women accused of killing 8-year-old Te Teko boy Rickah’Shae Keefe-Haerewa have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Both appeared in the High Court at Rotorua on Monday to enter pleas.

Maya Hati, 25, appeared via audio-visual link and, through her lawyer Caitlin Gentleman, denied a charge of murder and a charge of assaulting a child.

Maya Hati, pictured at an earlier court appearance in Tauranga, has now entered not guilty pleas to charges of murder and assaulting a child, in relation to the death of Rickah'Shae Keefe-Haerewa.

She did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody.

Pauline Timu, 61, appeared in person and, through her lawyer Tony Rickard-Simms, pleaded not guilty to a charge of manslaughter and two charges of assaulting a child.

Rickard-Simms applied for bail on Timu’s behalf, but Justice Kiri Tahana reserved her decision on that application.

Pauline Timu, 61, pleaded not guilty to charges of manslaughter and assaulting a child, which relates to the death of 8-year-old Rickah'Shae Keefe-Haerewa.

Family members of Rickah’Shae were present in court, as were supporters of Hati and Timu.

The matter will now head to a High Court jury trial scheduled for April 2027. The Crown sought joinder, meaning the two women will face a joint trial over Rickah’Shae’s death.

An investigation began after police were called to Whakatāne Hospital in November, after the child died following an alleged assault.

A scene examination was carried out at a property in the small town of Te Teko.

Hati was charged first in relation to Rickah’Shae’s death, with Timu’s charges following.

Family members have posted tributes to the young boy, who also went by the nickname Joppy, online.

“Mummy and Daddy love you. Forever 8 my son.”

Rickah'Shae Keefe-Haerewa was known by the nickname Joppy.

At earlier court appearances, supporters of Rickah’Shae wore “Forever 8″ hoodies and t-shirts to the proceedings.

At Hati’s previous appearance in Tauranga, emotions ran high for both families; as Hati’s family expressed their love and support for her as she left the dock, a single voice from the boy’s family was heard to allege, “You killed my baby”.

Hannah Bartlett is a Tauranga-based Open Justice reporter at NZME. She previously covered court and local government for the Nelson Mail, and before that was a radio reporter at Newstalk ZB.