Investigations continue at the Murray St, Manoora, address where eight children died. Pic: Liam Kidston Source: News Corp Australia

As Raina Mersane Ina Thaiday remained under police guard in hospital, neighbours told The Courier-Mail the 37-year-old had recently turned to religion and denounced technology, cutting the power and tossing out the television.

Yesterday, at a bedside hearing at Cairns Hospital, she was formally charged with eight counts of murder.

CHARGES: Police to oppose bail

In one of Australia’s worst domestic mass murders, she stands accused of killing seven of her own children and a niece.

Preliminary autopsy reports detail the horrendous scale of a frenzied, sustained knife attack. Police will allege some of the eight victims suffered multiple stab wounds in the massacre early Friday morning. Pathology results indicate one child had at least 12 knife wounds to the front and 10 more in the back, it is alleged.

A police officer inspects the roof and gutter of the house where the children died. Pic: Brendan Radke Source: News Corp Australia

Raina Mersane Ina Thaiday, 37, is charged with murdering the eight children. Source: Supplied

Senior police yesterday declined to comment on the yet-to-be-completed findings of the autopsy results.

Officers also would not comment on whether illicit drugs – namely ice – had played any part or whether it could explain a possible psychotic episode.

“I’m not dismissing it (ice), but I can’t discuss it,” regional crime co-ordinator detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar said.

It is understood forensic officers have found no evidence of drugs or drug paraphernalia at the Murray St home.

Neighbours, in conflicting accounts, told how the mum had found God and had taken to giving fiery sermons in the street.

Some said she warned locals not to use their mobile phones because they were the “work of the Devil”.

But others claimed the public housing home, which housed nine children, was often the scene of wild, loud, all-night parties.

On a front window, a handwritten sign reads: NO ALCOHOL, CIGARETTE, AND DRUNKEN PEOPLE ALLOWED IN THIS AREA”.

Tenants yesterday packed up their belongings and moved out of two houses next to the murder scene, while the street was still cordoned off.

Senior police said officers had taken more than 100 witness statements.

The accused killer is being treated for non-life-threatening self-inflicted injuries and remains under police guard.

Gavin Willie (centre), father of three of the victims, is supported at a makeshift memorial yesterday. Pic: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Source: Getty Images

Devastated dad broken and crying at memorial

“MY BABIES, my babies!”

Weeping and wailing, Gavin Willie had to be carried by relatives before collapsing on to a makeshift shrine to his dead children.

He and a large group of fellow Torres Strait Islanders yesterday made the harrowing pilgrimage to the ever-growing memorial laden with flowers, teddy bears and candles in the park next to the house where they were allegedly murdered by their mother.

A park where, only days ago, they played happily with their brothers and sisters and the other kids of Murray St, Manoora.

Mr Willie is believed to be the father of the three youngest of seven siblings, aged 2 to 14, allegedly murdered by their mother Raina Mersane Ina Thaiday at 34 Murray St on Friday. A niece, 12, was also allegedly killed.

A growing sea of gloral tributes and plush toys at the makeshift memorial in a park near the house where eight children were killed. Pic: Brendan Radke. Source: News Corp Australia

Police said the seven siblings had five different fathers. Asked by journalists how the five dads were faring, regional crime co-ordinator Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar said: “I don’t think anybody would imagine any reaction other than absolute devastation to be told their child is dead.”

Yesterday, that utter devastation was etched on Mr Willie’s face as he and dozens of devastated relatives, many of them dressed in their Sunday best, made the heart-wrenching procession down Murray St.

Some like Mr Willie and a sobbing woman, believed to be a grandmother to some of the slain children, were delirious with grief and had to be helped along the street.

A distraught Mr Willie slumped to the ground at the shrine, at the foot of a big fig tree only metres from the house.

The woman also collapsed and wailed for her lost grandchildren.

The group stayed at the shrine for about 10 minutes before returning to a house around the corner for a sombre backyard gathering.

Memorial service in Cairns.

Community rallies to remember

PLANS for a public memorial to eight children slain in Cairns will be unveiled today amid an emotional outpouring of grief.

Civic leaders also announced a public appeal for donations to surviving family members caught up in one of Australia’s worst domestic mass murders.

At an emotional Sunday memorial service, metres from the death house, local residents prayed that some good could come from the tragedy.

Hymns rang out across Murray St.

Pastor Ned Gabby said his niece was meant to stay at the house on the night that the children were killed.

“The mother (of the niece) said ‘don’t go ... visit the family after Christmas’,” he said.

“I just can’t imagine .... all them little piccaninnys (indigenous children) that were there, what happened on that day ... our prayers are with them this morning.”

People are being urged to donate to the Salvation Army to help accommodate extended family members travelling to Cairns from the Torres Strait and across Queensland to mourn the children.

Family members mourn at the scene of a memorial in the park next the home where eight children died. Pic: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Source: Getty Images

A group of women lay flowers at the memorial in Manoora. Pic: Mark Calleja Source: News Corp Australia

Pastor Rod Minniecon said “something good” would come from the tragedy in terms of a closer community.

He urged community leaders to “come together to bring out the goodness in people”.

A group of indigenous bikers was amid a stream of hundreds of mourners to lay flowers and pay their respects at a makeshift shrine next to the house where they died.

Cairns MP Gavin King said the future of the Housing Commission house would be decided once police had finished their investigation. There have been reports it may be demolished.

He will announce details of a public memorial to the children today and has also announced a public appeal for donations to the families, through UnitingCare.

Mr King backed police comments dismissing fears of unrest in Manoora over the mass murder.

“Most people understand this is a tragedy of untold horror – it’s not a time for retribution,” he said.

Jesus Christ Church of Latter Day Saints president Ben Mitchell said the community had come together.

“We try to find some understanding, some peace, comfort and even hope on how to get through this trying time,’’ he said.

“Our condolences and thoughts are with the families of those who have passed on, those precious children.

“Blessed are the children, for The Lord has received them.

“And death has no sting.”

Brisbane Islanders mourn loss

THEY came to remember, and to mourn the eight little angels taken to heaven too soon.

A crowd of more than 100 gathered in the Inala Elders community centre in Brisbane for a memorial service in remembrance of the terrible events last Friday in Cairns. Some sat, others stood listening from outside.

At the front were eight candles burning brightly in memory of those who had lost their lives in such terrible circumstances. Lit by members of the Thaiday and Willie families, they also represented a coming together of two clans.

Gavin Willie raised all seven of Mersane Warria’s lost children, his uncle Rupert Reuben said. Four were his own.

Mr Reuben said his nephew had been left “devastated” by the loss and had collapsed upon hearing the news of his babies.

He said the unspeakable violence seen on Murray St just days earlier had come as a surprise.

Family members were now with Mr Willie, Mr Reuben said.

“It has made a lot of difference.”

Earlier, the father had been unable to sleep or eat.

Edward Monaei, community elder and spokesman for the Torres Strait Islander community in Brisbane, said Sunday’s memorial service was part of the mourning process.

“That family, in particular, has family ties as far as WA in Perth,” he said.

Mr Monaei said the loss of children was a terrible thing that no family should endure.

“Children are very important, they are our next generation, our future, and it is up to us to make sure that that practice is sustained.

“The incidences that occurred in Cairns have affected us in a major way and its up to us now as community leaders and elders to come together to ensure that it doesn’t happen again,” he said.

Mr Monaei said a period of mourning would continue until the children were buried, but could last longer.

“The principle of this event is to make sure our community is safe and is aware of where things are currently at, what is currently happening and what needs to be put in place moving forward.”

The memorial service was also in support of members of the Thaiday and Willie families, some of whom were in attendance.

“Those families are and will be suffering, but their suffering with all of us as a united community,” Mr Monaei said.

A ‘love offering’ was collected during the memorial and will be given to those family members travelling to Cairns.

- Kerstin Kehren