Offender DatabasesViolent and Sexual Offender Databases |
Victims MemorialA memorial to those murdered in NZ in the last twenty years
Arabic language summary | 
Chinese language summary |
Korean language summary 0900 SAFE NZ (7233 69)
EDUCATE . ADVOCATE . SUPPORT
| SITEMAP(3)Where to find everything here | FAQFrequently Asked Questions | New!New on this site lately |
escalating violence in our community
Become a member of the
Sensible Sentencing Trust
.
On the 25th June 1992 in Masterton, murdered seven members of his family plus an unborn child.
Barney Rapana Ratima
Piripi Dion Ratima
Stacey Raymond Ratima
Bevan Tepu
Steven Tepu
Nicola Fergusson
Phillip Fergusson
none
none known
Born 1967
Prison
Was sentenced to "life" ten years in September 1992
Parole eligibility since 2002, strenuously resisted by family and others each time
Denied parole December 2011 thankfully
Due for next hearing November 2012
Background
An unemployed shearer, Raymond Wahia Ratima, (aged 25), clubbed and stabbed 7 family members to death, including his 3 children, his brother in law and sister in law who was 8 months pregnant. Police also charged him with the death of the unborn baby. Ratima was separated from his wife, (who was not killed), and had been under financial and marital stress. Ratima's mental status is unclear.
Ratima Was Driver In 1984 Fatal Crash, according to a Herald story on 29th June, 1992 (not the story linked below)..
Parole Board decision documented here
Herald story here gives full background on the killings
This TVNZ report has a letter attached he wrote to the media from Rolleston prison about his offending and there is a very informative video clip attached also
See also this excellent article at crime.co.nz