Six months on, still no justice for ‘Baby Ru’
Tuesday, 23 April 2024
Six months on from his violent death, Baby Ru is still to receive justice.
The boy – known to the public by his unregistered birth name Ruthless-Empire Souljah Reign Rhind Shephard Wall – was nearly 2 when he died, unresponsive, in a Wellington hospital bed. The blunt force that killed him had most likely been inflicted 12 hours before his death in October last year, police later revealed.
Whānau had been looking forward to celebrating Ru’s birthday with him. Instead it was a tāngi, for a tiny body.
Although three people of interest have connected to the homicide investigation since it began, no arrests have been made. Police acknowledged the milestone on Monday, with Detective Inspector Nick Pritchard saying they remain committed to following lines of inquiry.
Despite repeated requests by The Post, including again yesterday, the head of the investigation has declined to be interviewed.
So what do we, the public, know?
On Sunday, October 22, “Baby Ru” as he came to be known was rushed to hospital by family from the Tāita address where he and his mother lived. He died shortly after.
Two days later, the police announced they were treating the death as unexplained.
Pritchard was initially coy on whether the investigation was a homicide inquiry, despite police calling it one in a media release.
The name of the three adults connected to Ru’s death soon came out through the media: Ru’s mother, Storm Angel Wall, her friend, Rosie Morunga, and Dylan Ross – Morunga’s partner. The trio were living at a property on Poole St when Ru died.
Four days after Ru’s death, police appealed to the public for information and said those being spoken to (Wall, Morunga and Ross) were co-operating with the investigation.
Various family members began pointing fingers at those they believed culpable, through a series of often confusing and contradictory social media posts and public statements.
The Post revealed Morunga was appearing in the Hutt Valley District Court on unrelated assault charges. Nearly a month later, Morunga and two associates were charged assaulting journalists outside court when they were asked questions about Ru.
Police released the movements of a car belonging to one of the three adults, believed to have been used to take potentially incriminating items from the house – a hard drive with CCTV footage of the house, a power back-up unit and outlets and a swatch of duvet cover.
It remains unknown if these were ever found, while police stressed the co-operation of the three adults connected to Ru’s death was “vital” to understanding what had happened.
Police were receiving “differing levels of cooperation” from the trio, Pritchard said in November.
“We are engaging and trying our best to get them to talk to us.
“New Zealand law as it stands means people do have a right to silence, so we can’t force people to talk to us … it is frustrating.”
During this time, Nga Reo Te Huatahi Reremoana Ahipene-Wall was listed as Ru’s legal name on his death certificate.
Police updates became more sporadic from the start of this year, aside from the occasional appeal for information. In February, it was announced the investigation was being scaled back.
In the statement on Monday, Pritchard said police remained committed to investigating the circumstances that led to Ru’s death.
“A dedicated team is reviewing a significant amount of material and are following active lines of enquiry. Police are determined to get justice for Baby Ru and provide closure for his whānau and the wider community.”
What do we know?
Sunday, October 22: The infant called Ruthless-Empire, known as “Baby Ru” by whānau, is rushed from his and his mother’s home – a small council flat in Tāita, Lower Hutt – to Hutt Hospital shortly after midday.
The almost 2-year-old is in an unresponsive state. He dies a short time later.
October 24: Police announce they have starting investigating the unexplained death. The initial media release calls the investigation a homicide inquiry, but this is quickly amended to an unexplained death 14 minutes later.
Ru is still unnamed at this point, but, after a Givealittle page was set up to help with the infant’s funeral costs, his name soon comes out.
Ru’s uncle, Ngatanahira Reremoana, said the whānau was devastated by Ru’s death, with the infant soon due to celebrate his second birthday.
October 25: Ru’s death is still called “unexplained,” with police reluctant to call it a homicide. The scene investigation at the family’s Tāita property continues.
The Post speaks with a neighbour of Ru’s whānau, who lived next to them at the time of Ru’s death.
October 26: During a press conference, Detective Inspector Nick Pritchard reveals Ru was killed by blunt force trauma and had a number of injuries when he died. Police believe he had been injured 12 hours before he was taken to hospital, he says.
He states police are investigating a homicide. Stuff reports Ru’s mother, Storm Angel Wall, as claiming via social media her son was murdered.
October 27: It is revealed Baby Ru died without an official name, with the Department of Internal Affairs rejecting the name Ruthless-Empire Souljah-Reign Rhind Shepherd Wall.
The Post reveals a person connected to Ru’s death is facing violence charges, appearing before the Hutt Valley District Court for a bail application the previous month. Aggravated assault, common assault, wilful damage, threatening behaviour and shoplifting were among the charges.
October 28: Children’s advocate Dame Lesley Max speaks on Baby Ru, saying cases like his are New Zealand’s “great shame”.
November 1: The Post reveals at least four agencies had been involved with Baby Ru’s family before his death.
November 2: The three adults connected to Baby Ru, who are “people of interest”, continue to engage with the investigation, police say.
Media have already revealed their names to be: Storm Angel Wall (Ru’s mother); Rosie Morunga and her partner, Dylan Ross. The trio were living in a property on Poole St in Tāita when Ru died.
The Post delves into the country’s shoddy child homicide statistics, finding them severely out of date, after Stuff was leaked information showing there had been 57 child homicides since the agency was founded in 2017.
In a media statement, Pritchard says police are continuing to engage with Ru’s family and are determined to discover what exactly had happened before the toddler died.
November 5: The Post speaks with residents of Tāita, who speak up in defence of their suburb, saying a few people doesn’t make the whole area bad.
November 10: Police search five homes for items in relation to Ru’s death, with Pritchard telling media they were looking for items taken from the crime scene they believed were deliberately removed.
Police release information stating they believe a a grey-green 1994 Nissan Sentra was used to remove “critical evidence” from the home.
Attempts were made to clean and alter the crime scene before police arrived, he says, calling on the community to track the movements of the car.
November 14: Police continue to appeal for information. It is revealed the car in question is believed to have removed a hard drive with recorded CCTV footage from the property stored on it.
November 17: Four weeks after Ru’s death, The Post publishes that crucial evidence is still missing from the investigation.
November 18: The Post and Sunday Star-Times editor Tracy Watkins asks the question: who is speaking for Baby Ru?
November 20: Baby Ru’s legal name, Nga Reo Te Huatahi Reremoana Ahipene-Wall, is formerly registered with Department of Internal Affairs, in time for his death certificate to be issued.
November 23: Journalists working for The Post and NZME are allegedly pushed and shoved by supporters of Morunga outside Hutt Valley District Court.
November 25: Pritchard says police are “engaging and trying our best to get [the trio] to talk to us”, but concedes they are not compelled to.
“New Zealand law as it stands means people do have a right to silence, so we can’t force people to talk to us… it is frustrating.”
December 4: Police release another call for information for what they believe may be “critical evidence” in the investigation.
The hard drive, a power back-up unit and outlet and a swatch of duvet cover were believed to have been removed by the car seen travelling from the Tāita address.
Information around a piece of fabric found tied around Ru’s neck when he was taken to hospital was also being sought.
December 8: Oranga Tamariki pledges better stats on child homicide rates.
January 15: Three months on, The Post reports no arrests have been made.
February 2: Pritchard makes a renewed appeal for information through the media. He stresses the investigation team remains absolutely committed to getting justice for Ru and holding the person/people who hurt him to account.
February 4: The Post reports the investigation into Ru’s death is being scaled back, despite there still being three people of interest involved in the investigation.
March 22: Two children, aged 4 and 5, are found with “horrific injuries” when taken to hospital from their Stokes Valley home on March 8. The injuries are so severe they surgery.
April 22: Police acknowledge it has been six months since Ru’s death. Pritchard says he remains committed to the investigation.