Critically injured boy compared to horrific case

Police investigating how a 4-year-old boy was critically injured have compared the case to the appalling treatment of James Whakaruru.

The Flaxmere boy in the current case is in a critical condition in Starship hospital. Police say his survival is uncertain.

Detective Inspector Mike Foster says the injuries are some of the most severe he has seen involving a child in 30 years of policing.

Foster, who did not want to elaborate on the exact nature of the injuries because of the active investigation, said: “I would compare them to the injuries sustained by James Whakaruru.”

Whakaruru was beaten to death by his stepfather Benny Haerewa in 1999. The only part of his body not bruised were the soles of his feet. Haerewa served 12 years for manslaughter.

Foster said no one could say whether the Flaxmere boy, who was injured on January 29, would survive. “At this stage, we just don’t know, he’s in a very critical condition.”

If he did, he was likely to be severely disabled and braindamaged.

Foster said the boy’s family had reported the incident to police: “We are appealing to extended family, or anyone within the family who may have more information, to come forward.”

Police had been speaking to a number of people, but asked anyone else who might be able to help, to make contact.

“We would urge people to do the right thing by this child and help us work out exactly what’s happened. Please let us know anything that may help, no matter how small.”