Grieving family ask media to show compassion over corporate concerns

Waikato Police are imploring media agencies to put compassion ahead of commercial interests after a family, already shattered by the loss of their young son, were caused further anguish by the premature wrong naming of the boy.

District Field Crime Supervisor, Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Whitehead, said the family had expressed their anguish to Police that in their desire to be first with the story one organisation had named the deceased 19-month-old baby as Toby, a name which was incorrect.

"It is indeed unfortunate that long standing protocols of not publishing a deceased person's name until confirmation has been provided by Police were ignored.

"To that end, in consultation with the family we are asking the various organisations to in future, hold back from such activity to hopefully avoid other families being unnecessarily upset as has occurred today."

Mr Whitehead said a post-mortem examination carried out in Auckland today into the death of Kobi George COLLIER had been completed and an interim result has been provided to both Police and the Coroner.

"The preliminary post-mortem results appear consistent with the circumstances outlined to our investigators by people in the house at the time Kobi died and these results have not altered the focus of our investigation.

"There remains a number of people we still need to fully interview or speak to and the timing of these interviews will be determined by the current situation as many of these people had a close association with Kobi and his family."

A scene examination of the Te Aroha home was completed yesterday and a forensic examination of a stove removed from the house is currently underway, it is likely this will include some form of stability testing.

"When these enquiries have been completed a decision will be made on the disposition of this case but early indications are that it will be referred to the Coroner for completion of the coronial process," said Mr Whitehead.