Police say the boy was critically injured during a violent incident about 5.20pm yesterday at Anthony Cr in Bader, and two adults were injured and rushed to hospital.
Zahquiel was the son of Mitikiro Woods and Shannon Taipeti. Woods was one of the two adults injured in yesterday’s alleged attack. He remains in stable condition in hospital and is scheduled for surgery.
One neighbour reported seeing a man with blood on his face leave the property on a bike.
The accused also faces two charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to two other men.
The scene at Anthony Crescent, Bader in Hamilton where a violent incident allegedly resulted in the death of Zahquiel John Thomas Patrick Taipeti, 8. Photo / Mike Scott
Appearing on behalf of the accused this afternoon, duty solicitor Maria Young asked for a remand in custody without plea.
Community magistrate Ngaire Mascelle granted interim suppression and remanded the man in custody to the High Court at Hamilton on September 17.
A group of people waiting in the public gallery for the accused to be brought into court were kicked out after questioning the magistrate about why the man’s name was called, but then another defendant was called instead.
Police outside a home on Anthony Cres, Hamilton, where where a violent incident allegedly resulted in the death of Zahquiel John Thomas Patrick Taipeti, 8. Photo / Mike Scott
There was then an outburst from the public gallery as the murder-accused finally appeared.
Others who were in court cried throughout the man’s appearance.
Hamilton City field crime manager Inspector Darrell Harpur said this morning police had launched a homicide investigation.
Police were on the scene at Anthony Cres, Bader in Hamilton yesterday. Photo / Mike Scott
Police were called around 5.20pm on Sunday to reports of a “violent altercation”. Three people were taken to hospital - the boy, with critical injuries, and two other adults who had moderate and serious injuries.
A neighbour told NZME she heard shouting coming from the property.
”It was quite aggressive shouting and I saw my neighbours go over and see what it was about.”
”A lot of the houses in here are a little community.”
The scene at Anthony Crescent, Bader in Hamilton where an alleged violent incident resulted in the death of an 8-year-old boy overnight. Photo / Mike Scott
Another resident of the street, who also asked to be anonymous, said “people were coming and going all the time down there”.
”But once the ambulance turned up we knew it was different.”
He said he was aware the Bader neighbourhood had a reputation but had never had any negative experiences himself.
