Thai-li Ned’s aunt, Chanell King, says family trying to understand his death

The family of Thai-li Ned have spoken publicly for the first time since the young boy’s death.

The family of 9-year-old Thai-li Ned have remembered him as a “bright, active and mostly funny” young boy.

Thai-li was allegedly murdered by Schynada Karkadoo on January 25, with police saying he had an injury to the head consistent with blunt-force trauma.

Thai-li Ned was struck over the head with a blunt object allegedly by a woman he was living with, Schynada Karkadoo, 24.

His aunt, Chanell King, 20, told the Daily Mail the family was trying to wrap their heads around what happened.

“Maybe I’ll get a tattoo to remember him by,” she said.

“My other tattoos are ones I got in jail.”

Thai-li Ned with his mum, Tiarne Ned.

Karkadoo, 24, had been looking after Thai-li for some time and had a “loose family connection” to him, according to police.

Thai-li’s mother, Tiarne Ned, is on remand at Townsville Correctional Centre.

“She (Ms Ned) is not doing okay at the moment,” Ms King told the Daily Mail.

Detective Senior Sergeant David Miles from the Child Protection Unit said the alleged crime was “quite abhorrent”.

Schynada Karkadoo, 24 allegedly struck Thai-li Ned over the head with a blunt object.

He said there was a “significant head injury” that was “quite obvious”.

“Upon arrival we located a nine-year-old male who was deceased, with apparent head injuries,” he said.

Police are investigating whether a weapon was used and if so what type.

“Certainly, that’s part of our inquiries at the moment. The injury is consistent with what I would say at this stage appears to be blunt force trauma,” Detective Miles said.

“We’ll await the outcome of the autopsy before we make an absolute determination of what weapon may have been used.”

Originally published as Thai-li Ned’s aunt, Chanell King, says family trying to understand his death