Person arrested in Baby Ru case gets to keep name secret

A person charged with perverting the course of justice in relation to the homicide investigation into the death of Baby Ru has been granted name suppression.

Baby Ru, officially named Nga Reo Te Huatahi Reremoana Ahipene-Wall, died after suffering blunt force trauma so severe it fractured his skull on 22 October, 2023.

On Monday, RNZ revealed a person had been arrested in relation to the police investigation.

The person appeared in the Hutt Valley District Court on Tuesday before Judge Michael Mika charged with wilfully attempting to pervert the course of justice by removing and disposing of a CCTV system from the Poole St home where Baby Ru was living on October 22, 2023.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment.

No plea was entered on Tuesday, and the person's lawyer requested interim name suppression for the defendant which was not opposed by police.

Judge Mika granted the defendant interim name suppression until their next appearance on November 26.

The defendant sought bail, which was opposed by police.

Judge Mika declined bail and remanded the defendant in custody.

A spokesperson for Baby Ru's family, Ngatanahira Reremoana, told RNZ on Monday the family was "overwhelmed with emotions".

He said the family were contacted on Monday afternoon with news of the arrest.

"They told us that someone has been arrested and they couldn't give us more information."

Right after the call there was a video group chat among extended family members.

Reremoana said there were "tears of joy".

"We are happy now we have at least one arrest and they are still working on their case."

In a statement on Monday, Detective Inspector Nick Pritchard confirmed one person was arrested "in relation to the investigation into the death of Baby Ru".

"Further information will be released when we are in a position to do so."

Speaking to RNZ last month, Pritchard said the homicide investigation, dubbed Operation Huia, remained active with a "small dedicated team" working full time with oversight from a senior investigating officer.

"We continue to engage with our Crown solicitor and other forensic experts. It's an ongoing situation where we're working through evidential material, assessing it and assessing the criminal liability of any persons of interest."