Te Kūiti baby death: Police reveal new details in homicide investigation, dad speaks out

Waikato police have named the baby who died on Saturday, sparking a homicide investigation, and say there are “inconsistencies” in the stories from the child’s parents about how he came to be injured.

Police fronted media this afternoon to reveal new details about the homicide investigation into the “violent” death of a 10-month-old Te Kūiti baby boy.

Detective Inspector Graham Pitkethley has named the baby this afternoon as Mustafa Ali.

A post-mortem examination is expected to take “several days” due to the “extent of his injuries”.

The scene examination is ongoing at the home where Mustafa lived with his parents.

Pitkethley said the injuries were the result of violent blunt force trauma and the injuries do not seem to be accidental.

He is asking anyone with any information to reach out to police.

Pitkethley said police are continuing to speak to his parents, who have both given statements to police.

He extended his thanks to their investigation team and encouraged others to come forward with more information.

Pitkethley said the fatal injuries occurred on the day the little boy was taken to hospital.

He said two other people lived at the home with the baby and his parents.

Pitkethley said there were “inconsistencies” with stories from the child’s parents about how the baby came to be injured.

He would not comment on Oranga Tamariki’s involvement with the family.

Mustafa Ali had been known to police due to previous “non-accidental” injuries.

Pitkethley said police were notified around October and conducted a “number of reviews” into that incident.

He would not comment on whether the two other tenants in the home had returned from a holiday in Fiji.

Pitkethley said he wanted to hear from anyone who “heard the screams from the home”.

He said Mustafa was taken straight to hospital by both parents.

Pitkethley said it was the role of police to get “answers for the community” and said his team was “very driven to reconstruct the events” of Saturday.

There was “always a concern” about the mental impact on the investigation team, he said.

Detective Insector Graham Pitkethley, Waikato District manager criminal investigations, talks to media about the death of a 10-month old baby in Te Kuiti this week. Photo / Mike Scott

Mustafa Maheir Mukzameel Ali was unconscious when he was taken to Te Kūiti Hospital on Saturday afternoon and attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. A homicide investigation was launched the next day.

Earlier, the baby’s father told Stuff he had been home alone with his son, who was unwell and appeared to choke on vomit.

Ali said he “tapped” on his son’s back and bottom and attempted CPR.

He was now worried police would charge him over his son’s death.

“I didn’t do anything wrong, because I was trying to save my son,” he told Stuff.

“He was my son, I loved him so much. I was trying my best.”

Mukzameel Ali holding baby Mustafa Maheir Mukzameel Ali.

Pitkethley said the initial examination showed the baby had suffered violent, blunt-force trauma.

Oranga Tamariki deputy chief executive service delivery Rachel Leota said the agency was notified on Sunday.

“We are assisting police in trying to understand the circumstances that led to this,” Leota said.

Pitkethley said police would question locals over the coming days.

Police and forensic team comb a Te Kūiti property connected to the homicide investigation. Photo / Maryana Garcia

“They are working with us as we establish what occurred in this young child’s life and how he came to be so badly injured.”

Pitkethley said full details of the baby’s injuries would not be made public and the full extent of the abuse he suffered would be determined by a post-mortem examination.

“The death of any child is a shock to the community, and we know many in Te Kūiti will be affected by this.”

Anyone with information that could help the investigation is asked to contact police via the 105 phone service and reference file number 240608/8263.

Rachel Maher is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. She has worked for the Herald since 2022.