A 22-year-old man charged with the murder of 10-month-old Mustafa Ali in Te Kūiti appeared in Hamilton District Court, where he did not enter a plea and received interim name suppression.
The summary of facts is also suppressed, and he has been remanded in custody until his next court appearance on July 2 at the High Court in Hamilton.
Mustafa was taken unconscious to Te Kūiti Hospital last Saturday and could not be revived; he was buried at Te Kūiti Cemetery on Thursday. Detective Inspector Graham Pitkethley revealed the child died from violent blunt-force trauma, and the police had been aware of previous non-accidental injuries. Further charges may be laid as the investigation continues, with police maintaining a presence in the area.
