Family farewells 'Lil Dylan'

Murdered 3-year-old Dylan Rimoni was laid to rest at the Mangere Lawn Cemetery yesterday, after a private service held in a south Auckland garage.

Mourners, some wearing T-shirts bearing the words "R.I.P Lil Dylan", comforted each other and placed large bouquets of flowers on the white coffin as it was lowered into the ground. One woman held a bunch of balloons, many others held their babies.

Dylan died from unexplained head injuries in Starship hospital last Friday.

Family told the Herald on Sunday the toddler's 18-year-old mother had "turned her life around" and was trying to find her son and get custody of him when he died.

Meanwhile, the foster parent who is a suspect in the death of the 3-year-old has been named as Douglas Hoeta.

Hoeta has denied any responsibility for the death.

He and his partner, Patricia Pickering, were arrested last Saturday night on drugs charges after a search of the Drury home where they lived.

Police say the couple, in their 30s, are not related to Dylan.

Pickering has been released on bail, but Hoeta will remain in custody until his next court appearance next month.