By Tom McRae
Another postponement of the hearing into the Doha mall fire which killed 19 people, including triplets born in Wellington, has angered their father.
Martin Weekes is back in the country to support the Neonatal Trust's charity event and spoke exclusively to 3 News.
The Weekes triplets spent nine weeks in Wellington’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit after being born prematurely. Now, Weta Workshop has created a spectacle to support the Neonatal Trust, and the show is dedicated to the triplets.
“It means an enormous amount, not just in the memory of our children but for every child that goes through the Neonatal Trust and for every parent,” says Mr Weekes.
He is still reeling from the deaths of Lillie, Jackson and Willsher, who died in the Villaggio Mall fire in May, along with 16 others.
A Qatari government report has been finished but not released publicly.
Five people were arrested, including the owner of the mall and the childcare centre where most people died.
Hearings should have begun months ago but for the third time defendants have failed to show.
“It sets us back both emotionally and physically, there's been enormous stress on our health. We've been out of the country trying to recover and move on but it's been impossible to do so and get any closure,” says Mr Weekes.
The families have sent an emotional letter to the defendants to show some humanity.
“Show respect to the families, show respect to the dead and show respect to the court. Turn up, have your day in court and let the court decide if you're guilty or not.”
In the meantime the Weekes have been living in San Francisco, trying for more children.
“We went to America to get IVF and unfortunately the stress of the trial failing again and again has actually made that unsuccessful,” says Mr Weekes.
The stress is set to continue and the Weekes don't hold much hope for justice any time soon.
3 News