Police launched a homicide investigation after responding toa report of an assault just after midnight last night on Douglas Cres in Hamilton’s Fairfield.
A child was killed and three others were injured, police said. Witnesses told the Herald the injured people were the child’s mother and other relatives.
A 34-year-old man, also seriously injured but with injuries police believe were self-inflicted, was put under police guard at the hospital, where he remains. He was found “a short distance” from the crime scene, police said.
Forensic investigators, some wearing white-and-blue boiler suits, gloves, and latex shoe covers, spent hours scouring the property and the street yesterday morning.
Police forensics staff at the homicide investigation scene on Douglas Cres in the Hamilton suburb of Fairfield yesterday. Photo / Dean Purcell
The incident has left prominent domestic violence prevention advocate Merepeka Raukawa-Tait saddened but unsurprised.
She said individual families had a responsibility to get help for violent relatives, as well as wider society, which had a responsibility to address the root causes of domestic violence.
Witnesses see man drag woman across street, hear ‘heart-wrenching screams’, saw ‘lifeless’ baby, house covered in blood
The first witness on the scene said he was alerted to an issue when he saw a man dragging a woman across the street after she tried running to another house for help.
Local resident Jesse, who did not give his surname, told the Herald he saw the woman get stabbed.
He said he saw the baby: “I knew the baby was gone. It was lifeless.”
Meanwhile, other neighbours looked after two uninjured children on the scene, wrapping them in blankets.
Jesse said he saw the mother struggling to breathe but still trying to speak.
The scene on Douglas Cres, Hamilton where an incident left a child dead and other family members seriously injured. Photo / Dean Purcell
Another neighbour, Kasey, who also did not give her surname, helped two uninjured children alongside other neighbours.
“[One child] was playing with a doll,” she said. “And she mimicked what she saw.”
She said two other family members arrived at the scene after the incident and “dropped to the ground, screaming and bawling” after learning what had happened.
Another Hamilton resident spoke online of hearing “heart-wrenching screams” from the area early this morning.
The Herald saw blood spattered on the door and walls of the house where the incident happened. It was understood the children did not live at the address.
‘Welcome to 2025 - another year, the same old s***’ - domestic violence prevention campaigner
Raukawa-Tait told the Herald the Christmas and New Year holiday period “can be a very dangerous time for children and for our women”.
Raukawa-Tait, chairwoman of the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency and former chief executive of Women’s Refuge, was saddened to hear of the Fairfield incident.
“Welcome to 2025 — another year, the same old s***,” she said.
“I’m saddened to hear that there has been this death, I’m absolutely saddened — but I’m not surprised.
“We’re way past having to do something [to prevent these incidents]. We should have been doing something long ago.”
Domestic violence prevention campaigner Merepeka Raukawa-Tait. Photo / Andrew Warner
Raukawa-Tait said the violent behaviours of some family members may be a reflection of how they felt about themselves, often struggling to cope financially and socially.
“Oftentimes we have families who struggle, have been struggling for many, many years. They feel unsupported. They feel that life, their life is as good as it is going to get.
“And when you’ve got families who think, ‘this is it’, they see nothing changing, they don’t have any hope, they know they’re looked on as scrappy, their behaviours reflect how they feel about themselves and how they feel about the communities in which they live.”
A police spokesman said emergency services were called to Douglas Cres after a report of an assault just after midnight.
“When police arrived at the property, they found one person deceased and two others seriously injured, who were transported to hospital,” he said.
“A 34-year-old man was found a short distance from the address with serious injuries and was also transported to hospital, where he remains under police guard.
“Police would like to reassure the community that this is an isolated incident and there is no ongoing risk to the wider public.”
How to get help:If you’re in danger now: • Phone the police on 111 or ask neighbours or friends to ring for you. • Run outside and head for where there are other people. Scream for help so your neighbours can hear you. • Take the children with you. Don’t stop to get anything else. • If you are being abused, remember it’s not your fault. Violence is never okay. Where to go for help or more information: • Women’s Refuge: Crisis line - 0800 REFUGE or 0800 733 843 (available 24/7) • Shine: Helpline - 0508 744 633 (available 24/7) • It’s Not Ok: Family violence information line - 0800 456 450 • Shakti: Specialist services for African, Asian and Middle Eastern women and children. • Crisis line - 0800 742 584 (available 24/7) • Ministry of Justice: For information on family violence • Te Kupenga Whakaoti Mahi Patunga: National Network of Family Violence Services • White Ribbon: Aiming to eliminate men’s violence towards women.
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