Friday July 6 2012

Native Affairs to Screen Exclusive Interview with Anthony Ratahi Hostage Victim

Marcelle Beer – the ex-partner of Anthony Ratahi, who police shot dead after he took her hostage in Taranaki last year – breaks her silence on Maori Television’s NATIVE AFFAIRS programme this Monday, July 9 at 8.30pm.

In an exclusive interview with NATIVE AFFAIRS reporter Semiramis Holland, Beer talks about her relationship with Ratahi leading up to the shooting and her repeated attempts to seek mental health care for him.

Ratahi’s daughters and their mother also speak out about their frustration with the mental health system, and the police operation that ended 12 hours after Ratahi took Beer hostage at the Headlands Hotel in Opunake last July.

Ratahi had been out of prison just 10 days before the hostage crisis, after serving time for attempting to cut Beer’s throat.

His family first spoke to NATIVE AFFAIRS last year, a week after the shooting, about the lack of police support following Ratahi’s release from prison.

They granted Semiramis Holland exclusive, unlimited access to the tupapaku (body) and the tangihanga (funeral) at Oeo Pa.

The resulting coverage showed the human side of the tragedy – and was part of NATIVE AFFAIRS’ winning portfolio at the 2011 Aotearoa Film and Television Awards, in which they won Best Current Affairs Series.

Also on NATIVE AFFAIRS this Monday is the story of the so-called Maori stowaway, Busby Noble, now a celebrity castaway in Norway; and a live panel discussion with anchor Julian Wilcox.

Tune in to NATIVE AFFAIRS on Monday July 9 at 8.30pm.

http://www.maoritelevision.com/

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