Difference between revisions of "Raina Mersane Ina Thaiday"
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==Victims== |
==Victims== |
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| − | Eight children were killed: four boys and four girls, ranging in age from two to 14 years old.<ref name="Y7Funeral"/> Seven of the eight were siblings or half-siblings, and the eighth was their cousin. Their family had ties across Australia, including in Perth.<ref> |
+ | Eight children were killed: four boys and four girls, ranging in age from two to 14 years old.<ref name="Y7Funeral"/> Seven of the eight were siblings or half-siblings, and the eighth was their cousin. Their family had ties across Australia, including in Perth.<ref>http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/cairns-child-massacre-accused-found-god-denounced-technology/story-fnn8dlfs-1227163832647</ref> |
==Suspect== |
==Suspect== |
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'''Raina Mersane Ina Thaiday''', also called '''Mersane Warria''', was the mother of seven of the children and also the aunt of the eighth. Following the killings, she was hospitalised for self-inflicted<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20141228115147/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-21/family-of-killed-children-visit-memorial-attend-church-services/5981570</ref> wounds from the incident. |
'''Raina Mersane Ina Thaiday''', also called '''Mersane Warria''', was the mother of seven of the children and also the aunt of the eighth. Following the killings, she was hospitalised for self-inflicted<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20141228115147/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-21/family-of-killed-children-visit-memorial-attend-church-services/5981570</ref> wounds from the incident. |
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| − | Thaiday is alleged to have said to her eldest son "I've killed them" when he visited the house at around 11:00 a.m.<ref name="cdagm"/> Police believe Thaiday drugged the children before the attack took place, as no one reported that they heard the victims during the attack. However, no drugs were found at the crime |
+ | Thaiday is alleged to have said to her eldest son "I've killed them" when he visited the house at around 11:00 a.m.<ref name="cdagm"/> Police believe Thaiday drugged the children before the attack took place, as no one reported that they heard the victims during the attack. However, no drugs were found at the crime<ref>http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/cairns-deaths-a-good-mum-who-concealed-her-demons/story-e6frg6nf-1227167506505</ref> |
| − | On 21 December 2014, she was charged with eight counts of murder.<ref |
+ | On 21 December 2014, she was charged with eight counts of murder.<ref>http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-21/cairns-woman-charged-with-murder-of-eight-children/5981652</ref><ref name="cdagm"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/family-of-mersane-warria-mother-in-cairns-stabbing-speak-out-20141220-12bfhq.html|title=Family of Mersane Warria, mother in Cairns stabbing, speak out|author=Cameron Atfield|date=21 December 2014|accessdate=29 December 2014|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220215632/http://www.smh.com.au/national/family-of-mersane-warria-mother-in-cairns-stabbing-speak-out-20141220-12bfhq.html|archivedate=20 December 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Prior to Christmas, Thaiday was moved to a mental health facility in Brisbane, with a preliminary hearing to occur in Cairns on 30 January 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/funeral-plans-confirmed-for-eight-young-victims-of-cairns-massacre/story-fnn8dlfs-1227169684748|title=Funeral plans confirmed for eight young victims of Cairns massacre|author=Grace Uhr|work=[[The Courier-Mail]]|date=30 December 2014|accessdate=2 January 2015}}</ref> In April 2017, Queensland's Mental Health Court ruled that Thaiday was of "unsound mind" at the time of the killings, and thus (under Queensland law) not criminally responsible.<ref>{{cite web|title=Thaiday, Re [2017] QMHC 1 (6 April 2017)|url=http://austlii.edu.au/au/cases/qld/QMHC/2017/1.html|publisher=Australian Legal Information Institute|accessdate=16 July 2017}}</ref> {{As of|May 2017}}, she is being held for treatment at The Park Centre for Mental Health.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-04/mother-killing-eight-children-in-cairns-wont-face-criminal-trial/8489830|title=Cairns mother Raina Thaiday of unsound mind when she killed eight children, court rules|date=4 May 2017|accessdate=5 May 2017|author=Kristian Silva|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504195350/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-04/mother-killing-eight-children-in-cairns-wont-face-criminal-trial/8489830|archivedate=4 May 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref> |
==Reactions== |
==Reactions== |
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Latest revision as of 22:44, 20 February 2020
On 19 December 2014, at 11:20 a.m., police were called to 34 Murray Street in the Cairns suburb of Manoora in Australia, where eight children were found dead. The victims were aged between 18 months and 14 years.[1] The bodies, with stab wounds, were discovered by the children's 20-year-old brother.[2] Neighbours reported that fighting could be heard from the house the night before and in the early hours of the morning.[3]
Victims
Eight children were killed: four boys and four girls, ranging in age from two to 14 years old.[4] Seven of the eight were siblings or half-siblings, and the eighth was their cousin. Their family had ties across Australia, including in Perth.[5]
Suspect
Raina Mersane Ina Thaiday, also called Mersane Warria, was the mother of seven of the children and also the aunt of the eighth. Following the killings, she was hospitalised for self-inflicted[6] wounds from the incident.
Thaiday is alleged to have said to her eldest son "I've killed them" when he visited the house at around 11:00 a.m.[7] Police believe Thaiday drugged the children before the attack took place, as no one reported that they heard the victims during the attack. However, no drugs were found at the crime[8]
On 21 December 2014, she was charged with eight counts of murder.[9][7][10] Prior to Christmas, Thaiday was moved to a mental health facility in Brisbane, with a preliminary hearing to occur in Cairns on 30 January 2015.[11] In April 2017, Queensland's Mental Health Court ruled that Thaiday was of "unsound mind" at the time of the killings, and thus (under Queensland law) not criminally responsible.[12] Template:As of, she is being held for treatment at The Park Centre for Mental Health.[13]
Reactions
Tony Abbott, then Prime Minister of Australia, described the event as an "unspeakable crime."[14] Premier of Queensland|Queensland Premier Campbell Newman expressed his sadness and shock about the incident, adding "I ask that all Queenslanders reach out to those who may need support in coming days and do not hesitate to ask for professional assistance if needed".[15] Cairns Region Mayor Bob Manning asked the "people of Cairns to unite and display sympathy for those directly affected by this incident and respect for the police and other authorities who now must go about this difficult work."[16] The Torres Strait Island Regional Council requested respect for privacy and cultural responsibilities, adding it was inappropriate to comment due to "strict cultural protocols".[17]
The children's funeral was held on 10 January 2015 at Cairns Convention Centre.[4][18][19] The house was removed. Eight frangipani trees were planted on the site as a memorial.[20]
References
- ↑ http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/eight-children-found-dead-home-cairns-australia-n271426
- ↑ http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/stabbings-in-cairns-australia-leave-8-children-dead-woman-injured-1.2878746
- ↑ http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/woman-heard-screaming-for-forgiveness-before-child-massacre/story-fnihsrf2-1227162553523
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Template:Cite web
- ↑ http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/cairns-child-massacre-accused-found-god-denounced-technology/story-fnn8dlfs-1227163832647
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20141228115147/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-21/family-of-killed-children-visit-memorial-attend-church-services/5981570
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedcdagm - ↑ http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/cairns-deaths-a-good-mum-who-concealed-her-demons/story-e6frg6nf-1227167506505
- ↑ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-21/cairns-woman-charged-with-murder-of-eight-children/5981652
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite web
- ↑ Template:Cite news
- ↑ Template:Cite news