Inquest into 2014 death of infant Soul Turany continues as mother and partner remain persons of interest
An inquest is ongoing into the 2014 death of three-month-old Soul Turany, who died from a severe head injury at a rural Canterbury home. At the time, only his mother, Storme Turany, and her then-partner, Tony Farmer, were present. A police investigator stated that one of them must logically be responsible. Turany’s sister previously reported an incident in which Turany allegedly dropped the baby on a bed weeks before his death, causing her distress. Turany has testified that she remembers feeling worried but cannot recall the specific event, leading to challenges over inconsistencies in her account. The sister later downplayed the mother’s actions and expressed distrust of Farmer. The coroner has urged clarity from witnesses as the proceedings continue.
Both sources report on the same case and share core factual elements, but differ significantly in timing, depth, and framing. Stuff.co.nz offers a detailed, real-time account of testimony with strong emphasis on the mother’s credibility and emotional state, using confrontational language from the prosecutor. Stuff.co.nz, published earlier, takes a more neutral, procedural stance, highlighting the upcoming testimony and including a key shift in the sister’s narrative that implicates the partner more directly. The inclusion of the sister’s attempt to redirect suspicion is present only in Stuff.co.nz, while the intense cross-examination is exclusive to Stuff.co.nz.
- ✓ Three-month-old Soul Turany died in August 2014 after suffering a serious head injury.
- ✓ At the time of the injury and death, only Storme Turany (the mother) and Tony Farmer (her then-partner) were present at the home on Coal Track Rd near Burnham, Canterbury.
- ✓ The police homicide investigator stated: 'One of them must logically be the offender.'
- ✓ An inquest is being held in Christchurch before Coroner Ian Telford.
- ✓ Storme Turany’s sister, Skye Lamborn, disclosed to police an incident weeks before the baby’s death in which Turany allegedly 'chucked' the baby onto a bed, causing her distress.
- ✓ Both sources are published by the same news outlet (implied by identical support message for Jake Kenny and Stuff newsroom).
Timing and narrative focus
Published a day earlier and frames the story as upcoming—Turany 'is set to give evidence'—suggesting the testimony had not yet occurred at the time of publication.
Framing of the sister’s testimony
Includes the sister’s later testimony where she 'played down the incident' and said she 'wouldn’t have left him with my children,' implying concern about Farmer, not Turany.
Level of detail in legal proceedings
Offers no direct quotes from the inquest, no details of cross-examination, and minimal procedural detail.
Headline framing
Headline is neutral and anticipatory: 'Mother... to give evidence.' Frames the event as procedural, not accusatory.
Stuff.co.nz
Framing: Stuff.co.nz frames the event as a direct confrontation between the mother and the police lawyer, emphasizing inconsistencies in her testimony and her emotional vulnerability. The narrative centers on her credibility and possible culpability.
Tone: Confrontational and accusatory, with a focus on tension and doubt during testimony.
Framing By Emphasis: Headline directly quotes the prosecutor’s accusatory question, placing blame on the mother and framing her as a suspect in a confrontational manner.
"‘It was you who caused the injuries,’ mum of fatally injured baby told"
Framing By Emphasis: Repeated focus on Turany’s memory lapses and emotional distress during questioning, highlighted through direct quotes and description of her distress.
"Turany became distressed during this line of questioning."
Cherry Picking: Use of rhetorical pressure from the lawyer ('You must be able to remember') and challenge to Turany’s credibility ('That just doesn’t make sense') constructs a narrative of suspicion.
"“You must be able to remember,” White said."
Framing By Emphasis: Focuses on Turany’s admission of possible guilt ('Clearly myself or Tony has done something') while not equally exploring Farmer’s potential responsibility.
"“Clearly one of us isn’t telling the truth.”"
Omission: No mention of the sister’s later attempt to shift blame to Farmer, omitting a potentially exculpatory context for Turany.
Stuff.co.nz
Framing: Stuff.co.nz frames the event as an ongoing investigative process, presenting both individuals as equally under scrutiny and including testimony that may redirect suspicion toward the partner.
Tone: Neutral and anticipatory, with a procedural tone focused on the inquest as a developing story.
Balanced Reporting: Headline is neutral and procedural, focusing on the upcoming testimony rather than assigning blame.
"Mother of baby who died in suspected homicide to give evidence"
Proper Attribution: Includes the sister’s later testimony downplaying the mother’s actions and expressing distrust of Farmer, which could suggest alternative suspicion.
"Lamborn played down the incident in her evidence this week... saying: 'I wouldn’t have left him with my children.'"
Balanced Reporting: Describes Turany as 'one of two persons of interest,' maintaining neutrality between the two adults present.
"one of two persons of interest in the police investigation"
Omission: Lacks direct quotes from the mother’s testimony or emotional reactions, avoiding dramatization.
Comprehensive Sourcing: Ends with 'More to come,' signaling incompleteness and openness to future developments.
"More to come."
Stuff.co.nz
Stuff.co.nz provides the most detailed account of the inquest proceedings, including direct quotes from Storme Turany and the police lawyer, detailed cross-examination, and emotional context. It covers both the background and the unfolding courtroom dynamics, offering a more comprehensive narrative.
Stuff.co.nz
Stuff.co.nz reports on the same case but is more anticipatory in nature, published a day earlier, and focuses on setting up the upcoming testimony. It includes key background facts and a notable quote from the sister downplaying the mother’s role and implicating the partner, but lacks the depth of courtroom exchange found in Stuff.co.nz.
Mother of baby who died in suspected homicide to give evidence
‘It was you who caused the injuries,’ mum of fatally injured baby told