Autopsy images of Ngatikaura Ngati

Ngatikaura Ngati was a New Zealand-Tongan toddler who died in of child abuse in January 2006. He is notable for the deliberate release of official autopsy photographs after his death and the subsequent distribution of those photographs on the internet.

Death

Ngati had been fostered to a cousin of his birth mother and was being raised in a Tongan language environment until shortly after his third birthday when he was returned to his birth mother, at her request. Maine Ngati, her partner, Teusila Fa'asisila, and their other children only speak English. Within three months, Ngati was dead. Photos taken during the autopsy showed bruises from repeated beatings and weeping sores the size of a man's hand on his bottom.^[1] Maine and Teusila were found not guilty of murder but guilty of the manslaughter,^[2] each was sentenced to 6 and a half years in prison,^[3] with a non-parole period that was reduced on appeal.

Distribution of the Images

In an controversially move, a judge allowed the publishing of autopsy photos. After they were used in a television program broadcast on 6 August 2007 at 6pm on TV One, Children’s Commissioner Dr Cindy Kiro lodged a complaint with the Broadcasting Standards Authority, which was investigated, but not upheld.^[4] Previous Commissioner Roger McClay said, however, the photos of Ngatikaura's battered body could only raise awareness of the "epidemic" of child abuse, which New Zealanders had not yet twigged.^[5] Inspector Richard Middleton, who was involved in the original police case said publishing the photos could have a positive effect and help to prevent further abuse.^[6]

The images were also circulated in an email sent by a protest group calling for tougher jail terms for child abusers,^[7] with Kiro calling their use abhorrent.^[8][9] Ngati's name (but not images) were used by Family First to advocate tougher sentences for child abuse^[10] and to highlight female family violence perpetrators.^[11] The images have also been used on placards.^[12]

Some time later the photos appear on NSFW internet shock sites.^[13][14] Current Children’s Commissioner Dr Russell Wills said he was appalled at their use.^[6] Despite the images being taken during a New Zealand autopsy, the images were a component of a DCMA complaint between shock sites lodged with Google.^[15]

References

1. ^ "From happiness to hell". nzherald.co.nz. 2011 [last update]. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10439204. Retrieved 8 October 2011. 
2. ^ "Ex-carer tells boy's killers to hang themselves". nzherald.co.nz. 2011 [last update]. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10445880. Retrieved 8 October 2011. 
3. ^ "Toddler's killers get 8 1/2 years". nzherald.co.nz. 2011 [last update]. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10446071. Retrieved 8 October 2011. 
4. ^ "Kiro and Television New Zealand Ltd - 2007-111". bsa.govt.nz. 2011 [last update]. http://www.bsa.govt.nz/decisions/show/2971. Retrieved 8 October 2011. 
5. ^ "E-mailer backs abuse photos". stuff.co.nz. 2011 [last update]. http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/archive/national-news/10681/E-mailer-backs-abuse-photos. Retrieved 8 October 2011. 
6. ^ ^{a b} "Disgust over dead boy's pictures on porn site". nzherald.co.nz. 2011 [last update]. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10757456. Retrieved 8 October 2011. "Ngatikaura Ngati died after horrific abuse by his parents. Children's advocates are appalled that pictures of a young Auckland boy killed by his parents were posted on a pornographic site featuring beheadings, impalement and necrophilia." 
7. ^ "The real face of child abuse in NZ". biggie.co.nz. 2011 [last update]. http://www.biggie.co.nz/discussion/the_real_face_of_child_abuse_in_nz_size9warning_tear. Retrieved 9 October 2011. 
8. ^ "Photos sent in emails of dead boy slammed". stuff.co.nz. 2011 [last update]. http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/14389/Photos-sent-in-emails-of-dead-boy-slammed. Retrieved 8 October 2011. "tougher jail terms for child abusers." 
9. ^ "Grisly photos in email petition". stuff.co.nz. 2011 [last update]. http://www.stuff.co.nz/46753/Grisly-photos-in-email-petition. Retrieved 8 October 2011. "January 2006" 
10. ^ "Sentence for Beating Partner to Death slammed". scoop.co.nz. 2008 [last update]. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0802/S00330.htm. Retrieved 8 October 2011. "Family First NZ is slamming a decision by the Court of Appeal yesterday to reduce a sentence for manslaughter to a minimum non-parole period of four years, and says that the problem of domestic violence will continue as long as we have ‘pathetic’ sentences which serve no justice and send a confusing message as to our stand against violence." 
11. ^ "Child Abusers Are Also Women". scoop.co.nz. 2007 [last update]. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0707/S00373.htm. Retrieved 8 October 2011. "However, it ignores a fundamental issue that women, including mothers, are also abusing children." 
12. ^ "Ngatikaura Ngati". flickr.com. 2011 [last update]. http://www.flickr.com/photos/blake662003/1228828040/. Retrieved 8 October 2011. 
13. ^ "Ngatikaura Ngati – Story and Pictures of a Child Beaten to Death Ngatikaura Ngati Picture Showing the Extent of Beatings He Received – Best Gore". bestgore.com. 2011 [last update]. http://www.bestgore.com/murder/ngatikaura-ngati-story-pictures-child-beaten-death/attachment/ngatikaura-ngati-story-pictures-child-beaten-death-01/. Retrieved 9 October 2011. "Ngatikaura Ngati Picture Showing the Extent of Beatings He Received" 
14. ^ "Ngatikaura Ngati – Story & Pictures of a Child Beaten to Death | GoreGrish Forums". forum.goregrish.com. 2011 [last update]. http://forum.goregrish.com/threads/ngatikaura-ngati-%E2%80%93-story-pictures-of-a-child-beaten-to-death.11706/. Retrieved 9 October 2011. "Ngatikaura Ngati – Story & Pictures of a Child Beaten to Death" 
15. ^ "Articles DMCA (Copyright) Complaint to Google -- Chilling Effects Clearinghouse". chillingeffects.org. 2011 [last update]. https://www.chillingeffects.org/notice.cgi?sID=62669. Retrieved 9 October 2011. "Original content: [1] Copyright infringing page: [2]"