Raymond Ratima

Background

Raymond Wahia Ratima was an unemployed shearer and was aged 25. At the beginning of 1992, he and his wife, Toni, were facing hard times. They were unable to afford increased rent and, with three young sons, moved into Toni's parents home in Judds Street, Masterton. Raymond and Toni had relationship problems around this time. In June 1992, after a serious altercation with his wife and family, Ratima was forced out of the Judds Street home. He sought help from social services and lawyers for help in finding a place to stay. After days of little sleep and food, his mind apparently turned to revenge and murder.

Ratima was separated from his wife, who was not killed, and he had been under financial and marital stress. His mental status was unclear. Later descriptions included that he was back on drugs, with an earlier history of being an identified drug user. At a parole hearing he appeared to have overcome an earlier history, but he had reverted to cannabis use and apparently blamed a death in his family.

The offence

On the 25th June 1992 in Masterton, Ratima murdered seven members of his family plus an unborn child. The attack bludgeoned and stabbed to death seven relatives, including five children, in the quiet rural town of Masterton, north of Wellington.

The victims were:

• Bevan Tepu, age 21
• Steven Tepu, son of Bevan Tepu, aged 2
• Nicola Fergusson, sister-in-law, age 20
• Phillip Fergusson, teenager, age 14
• Piripi, 6-year-old
• Barney, 4-year-old
• Stacey, 2-year-old

Ratima also killed an unborn child.

Investigation

Police also charged him with the death of the unborn baby. When the police arrived, Nicola's father Phillip had subdued Ratima, preventing more deaths.

Events leading to the killings

In June 1992, Toni set off to meet her parents, Phillip and Rebecca Fergusson at a local pub, leaving her three young sons, Piripi, Barney and Stacey at home with her sister Nicola. Also at home that night were Toni's brother Phillip, Nicola's de facto Bevan Tepu, and their son Steven. At 9.25 pm, Ratima entered the house.

Arrest

By the time the police arrived, Nicola's father Phillip had subdued Ratima.

Trial

Raymond Ratima expressed remorse at his court trial. The killings were described as quite out of character. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Sentencing

Ratima was sentenced to life imprisonment in August 1992. He was also sentenced on a set of offences that included:

• seven charges of murder
• 10 years' imprisonment for killing an unborn child
• seven years' imprisonment for attempted murder

When Ratima was sentenced in 1992 the judge urged the board to proceed "only with the greatest caution" when the question of parole came up.

The record also stated that he "was sentenced to ten years in August 1992" and that parole eligibility was from June 2002, which was resisted by family and others each time.

Appeals

A next hearing was stated as November 2011 as the Parole Board had postponed it for another three years.

Outcome

The Parole Board refused mass murderer Raymond Wahia Ratima's latest bid for freedom on Friday Jun 20, 2008. The Parole Board noted that he was back on drugs. The board said that at a parole hearing last year Ratima presented himself as a disciplined and articulate man and appeared to have overcome an earlier history of being an identified drug user, but "Sadly that has not been the case." The board said he had reverted to cannabis use, apparently blaming a death in his family. The board said it would see him again in three months to consider a "postponement order" to give the families of victims relief from the annual round of parole hearings.

Aftermath

This case was featured in the book "Shattered Dreams - Families of New Zealand Murder Victims Speak Out" by Bill O'Brien. It was described as a personal account of the tragedy written by Debbie Woodward, Raymond Ratima's sister-in-law.