Raymond Wahia RATIMA

Classification: Mass murderer
Characteristics: Parricide - Revenge
Number of victims: 7
Date of murders: June 26, 1992
Date of arrest: Same day
Date of birth: 1967
Victims profile: His sister-in-law Nicola Ferguson, Bevan Tepu, their child Stephen, 2; Nicola's brother Phillip Ferguson, and his own children Piripi, 6, Barney, 4, and Stacey, 2
Método de matar: Arma blanca - Golpes con objeto
Location: Masterton, Wellington, New Zealand
Status: Sentenced to life in prison in August 1992

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 his 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.

Crime.co.nz

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 his 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.

Crime.co.nz

Mass murderer Ratima's latest parole bid declined

NzHerald.co.nz

Friday Jun 20, 2008

The Parole Board today refused mass murderer Raymond Wahia Ratima's latest bid for freedom noting that he was back on drugs.

Ratima killed seven people, including three of his own children, on a murderous rampage in Masterton in 1992.

The board said that at a parole hearing last year Ratima year presented himself as a disciplined and articulate man, who appeared to have overcome an earlier history of being an identified drug user.

"Sadly that has not been the case."

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".

On June 25, 1992, Ratima, then aged 25, killed his sister-in-law Nicola Ferguson, Bevan Tepu, their child Stephen, Nicola's brother Phillip Ferguson junior, and his own children Piripi, Barney and Stacey.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment on seven charges of murder, 10 years' imprisonment for killing an unborn child and 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.