Court for Qld mum accused of killing eight

A Cairns mother accused of murdering eight children, including seven of her own, will have her case mentioned in court on Friday.

A fence surrounds a house in which eight children were murdered

(AAP) Source: AAP

A north Queensland community where eight children were found dead is beginning to heal more than a month after one of the country's worst tragedies.

The Cairns suburb of Manoora was rocked less than a week before Christmas when four boys and four girls, aged two to 14 years, had been found dead at a home in their neighbourhood.

Another wave of grief struck when Raina Mersane Ina Thaiday, mother of seven of the children and aunt to the eighth, was charged with their murders the following day.

Her case is due to be mentioned in the Cairns Magistrates Court on Friday.

Community advocate Yodie Batzke says residents have found strength in each other and rallied around the families affected.

"We're seeing a greater awareness of a sense of community," she told AAP.

Ms Batzke said she was also seeing crucial changes going on within the community, historically known for high crime rates, unemployment and violence.

"The community wants to change the negative brand and stigma that has been attached for many, many years," she said.

"There is a different direction, there is a sense of 'How can we come together to make Manoora a different suburb?'"

Counselling and support services are being offered in Manoora and the Torres Strait Islands, where the grieving families are from.

Fishing trips, morning tea gatherings and respite for stressed parents have also been organised in Cairns.

The children were farewelled at a service at the Cairns Convention Centre by thousands of mourners on January 10.

Thaiday was initially treated at the Cairns Base Hospital for stab wounds before being transferred to Brisbane on Christmas Eve.

Her lawyer indicated in late December the case may be heard in a mental health court.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world