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Raymond Wahia Ratima
This is a tragic story of lives cut short by a man driven by despair and poverty, who sought retribution from his family by murdering seven people including his children before being overpowered.
Victims:
Twenty-one year old Bevan Tepu and his son Steven aged 2, sister-in-law Nicola Fergusson 20 and teenager Phillip 14, and the Ratima children Piripi 6, Barney 4, and 2 year old Stacey Ratima.
Raymond Wahia Ratima and his wife, Toni, were facing hard times at the beginning of 1992. Unable to afford increased rent and having three young sons, they moved into Toni's parents home in Judds Street, Masterton. Raymond and Toni had relationship problems around this time, a fact that would be the main contributor to the events that were to follow.
In June, after a serious altercation with his wife and family, Ratima was forced out of the Judds Street home. He felt his world was crashing down and after looking to social services and lawyers for help in finding a place to stay, he was in despair. After days of little sleep and food, his mind apparently turned to revenge and murder.
On June 26 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 and stabbed and bludgeoned all seven family members to death. The attack also included h
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| This case is featured in the book "Shattered Dreams - Families of New Zealand Murder Victims Speak Out" by Bill O'Brien. It is a personal account of the tragedy written by Debbie Woodward, Raymond Ratima's sister-in-law. |
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is three sons whom he left dead on his wife's bed with a bible on top of them. The other adult victims were piled on top of each other in another bedroom. The deadly visit continued as Raymond lay in wait for his wife and in-laws to return home, intending to kill them. Nicola's father, on entering the house was attacked by Ratima with a softball bat and Toni managed to escape and call for help. By the time the police arrived, Nicola's father Phillip had subdued Ratima, fortunately preventing more from dying.
The dreadful events inside the house that night will never be forgotten by the survivors and by the police who attended the scene. Ratima's fury and the dreadful loss of innocent lives will continue to haunt them all as long as they live.
Raymond Ratima expressed remorse at his court trial and the killings were quite out of character. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.
This case is featured in the book "Shattered Dreams - Families of New Zealand Murder Victims Speak Out" by Bill O'Brien. It is a personal account of the tragedy written by Debbie Woodward, Raymond Ratima's sister-in-law.
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This is a tragic story of lives cut short by a man who sought retribution from his family - June 26, 1992. |
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