Two people have been charged with perverting the course of justice in the Baby Ru homicide investigation, accused of returning to the toddler’s home and discarding evidence.
A 28-year-old woman and a 33-year-old man are currently before the courts.
The man, who was arrested yesterday, appeared in the Hutt District Court today, where he was granted interim name suppression. The woman is due to appear on Thursday, November 12.
At the man's hearing, the court heard he allegedly went back to Baby Ru’s home and removed and discarded evidence.
He was remanded in custody until his next appearance on November 26.
The investigation is ongoing and further charges are likely, police said.
“We have never stopped working to determine what happened here and get justice for Ru and his whānau," Detective Inspector Nick Pritchard said.
“Baby Ru’s death was a senseless tragedy, and it is a relief to have made progress in this case,” he says.
Ruthless-Empire, known as Baby Ru, died in Hutt Hospital from severe head injuries on October 22, 2023, just days before his second birthday.
At the time, police described the boy’s death as "violent". They said his injuries could have been caused by a weapon, or by physical force such as his head being slammed on a hard floor or table.
Last month, on the third anniversary of Baby Ru's death, Pritchard said the homicide investigation team remained committed to getting justice for the boy.
"We are highly motivated to hold the person responsible to account, and we continue to engage with the Crown Solicitor and forensic experts to assess evidential material gathered in order to determine the criminal liability of persons of interest," he said.
Three adults known to Baby Ru remain persons of interest in the investigation.
"We know there are people who know what happened to Baby Ru, and we believe this information is weighing on their conscience," Pritchard said.
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