Rania Whare charged with manslaughter after boy’s drowning at Westshore Beach, Napier
Rania Whare, 64, has been charged with manslaughter following the death of a 5-year-old boy at Westshore Beach in Napier, New Zealand. The charges follow an extensive police investigation into the incident that occurred in February.
Why it matters
The case highlights the legal accountability surrounding child supervision and the tragic consequences of water-related accidents.
The boy's body was found at Westshore Beach after a late-night search. Photo / Paul Taylor
Police say a decision to charge a woman with manslaughter after a child died at a Napier beach “wasn’t taken lightly”.
The woman appeared in the Napier District Court today in relation to the death of the 5-year-old boy on February 5.
Emergency services were called after a body was spotted in the water that day about 8.30pm.
The boy’s body was eventually found in the early hours of February 6 after a large late-night search involving police, the Coastguard, and Surf Life Saving.
Police later made an appeal for people who might have seen an unattended child on the beach.
The woman charged was identified in court documents as Rania Whare, 64. The court’s registry confirmed name suppression had not been sought.
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