THE TRAGIC CASE OF THE CAIRNS CHILDREN'S MASSACRE:
WHO: Raina Mersane Ina Thaiday, also known as Mersane Warria.
WHAT: Killed seven of her children and a niece at the family's suburban Manoora home on the morning of December 19, 2014.
WHY: Psychiatrists say Thaiday's long-term cannabis addiction triggered schizophrenia and religious delusions. Believing the end of the world was near, she killed the children in a bid to "save" them.
VICTIMS: Malili Warria, Vita Thaiday, Shantae Warria, La'Torrence Warria, Azariah Willie, Daniel Willie, Rodney Willie and Patranella Willie. The children were aged between two and 14 years.
JUDGMENT: The Queensland Mental Health Court ruled on April 6, 2017 that Thaiday suffered a psychotic episode and was of "unsound mind" when she murdered the eight children. As a result, she will not have to stand trial and remains in a mental health facility.
TIMELINE
Late 2014 - She begins suffering religious delusions that she was the "Chosen One" and was obsessed with cleansing. She takes all the furniture outside and scrubs the house top to bottom, leaving the family to sleep outside on mattresses. Thaiday also gives up cannabis and alcohol.
December 18, 2014 - Thaiday's daughter stays out late from a shopping trip to Cairns. Neighbours recall Thaiday pacing up and down in front of her house talking to herself or on the phone, saying things like "I have the power to kill people and to curse people". She also calls triple zero and abuses the operator after being told they would not bring her daughter home.
December 19, 2014 - Thaiday told psychiatrists she heard a bird call, a sign that the end of the world was coming and she needed to save her children from a terrible fate. Thaiday kills their pet duck before turning on the four boys and four girls inside the house. She then stabs herself 35 times. Her adult son finds her on the front verandah and calls police.
December 20, 2014 - Thaiday is arrested while under guard at Cairns Base Hospital and charged with eight counts of murder the next day.
January 10, 2015 - The children are farewelled with a Christian funeral service at the Cairns Convention Centre in front of thousands of mourners. They become known as "Keriba Omasker", or "our children", and are buried side by side at the Martyn Street cemetery. Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Queensland Premier Campbell Newman attend the service and lay wreaths.
June 1, 2015 - Work begins to demolish Manoora house on Murray St. The site is handed to the council to build a permanent memorial of eight frangipani trees.
April 6, 2017 - The Mental Health Court of Queensland rules Thaiday was of unsound mind when she committed the murders.
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.
Multicultural Mental Health Australia www.mmha.org.au.
National domestic violence helpline: 1800 737 732 or 1800RESPECT. In an emergency call triple zero.
