Rickah’Shae Keefe-Haerewa: Pair in court on murder, manslaughter charges after boy’s death aged 8

Rickah'Shae Keefe-Haerewa, 8, died last month.

The mood at Whakatāne District Court was solemn this morning as two women accused of killing an 8-year-old boy appeared on fresh charges, while whānau sobbed over his urn in the public gallery.

Both women, aged 25 and 61, have interim name suppression.

The younger woman first appeared in court three weeks ago on a charge of assaulting a child in relation to the death of Te Teko boy Rickah’Shae Keefe-Haerewa on November 15.

Following a search warrant executed in Whakatāne on Monday morning, police laid a murder charge against the woman, who appeared in court today, via audio-visual link.

She had been due to appear for a bail application but because of the new murder charge, a request for bail must now be made to the High Court.

The 61-year-old woman appeared in person on charges of manslaughter and two assaults spanning the course of three years.

There were tears from the public gallery as she entered the dock from the cells.

Because this was her first appearance and she did not have a lawyer, the woman was granted interim name suppression, which will lapse next week if she does not make a formal application for it to continue.

Both women were remanded in custody to appear in the High Court at Tauranga on January 22, although they can make a bail application prior to that date.

The courtroom was packed during both appearances, with some people wearing custom memorial T-shirts bearing Rickah’Shae’s image and the words “Forever 8”.

– Whakatāne Beacon