Kahui twins' parents may face fresh charges

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Thu, 30 Jun 2011 6:04a.m.

The Kahui twins' parents may face fresh charges following the inquest

The Kahui twins' parents may face fresh charges following the inquest

At least one parent of the Kahui twins looks set to face fresh charges over their deaths.

Legal sources have told Firstline that enough new evidence has emerged at the inquest to show that either one or both parents “failed to provide the necessaries of life”.

The decision is based on delays in getting the twins to hospital after they were injured, as well as their dehydrated state.

The offence carries a maximum prison term of seven years.

The inquest continues today. Click here for live updates

3 News reporter Emma Brannam has been following the inquest.

She says under the Crimes Act 1961 there is a duty for parents to provide the necessaries of life – “things like not feeding a person who can’t take care of themselves… basic things that they need to survive” - and failure to do so is a criminal act.

Chris Kahui gave evidence in person at the inquest – which he didn’t at the trial – and has “basically changed his mind” over when the twins were last fed, leading to some suggestion that the twins could have gone for up to 24 hours without food.

Medical experts have also said the twins’ injuries were so severe they should have been taken to hospital earlier, with one expert saying the lack of earlier care meant “their fate was sealed”.

The Coroner has one more witness to hear from today, and the inquest is expected to conclude by lunchtime.

A decision on the charges won’t be made until after the coroner publishes his findings from the inquest, which concludes today.

Yesterday the court heard from family members including Mona Kahui, the aunt of the three-month-old babies.

She told the inquest that Chris Kahui looked to the twins’ mother Macsyna King for direction on dealing with the babies, as she had had children before.  

Mona Kahui also said she was told by Macsyna King that baby Chris would sometimes hold his breath when winding, and a gentle shake to his shoulder and “a tap” would see him start breathing again.

She also said she was not part of “a wall of silence” and never refused to speak to the police.

The inquest has also heard from director of the Starship Hospital child protection team Dr Patrick Kelly and a panel of medical experts.

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Comments

03 Jul 2011 03:34p.m.

Rik Retimana wrote:

Society needs to also take responsibility for the deaths of these two boys and every other child that is murdered! When the government was told to do something about 'p' before it becomes epidemic in New Zealand the Police Commissioner stated that 'p' is not a problem or an issue in New Zealand! Whereas now, nearly every child that is being killed has links to this drug in their household! Nearly every shop in south and east Auckland has a bottle shop connected to it. This is the social infrastructure that has been set up. Don't get me wrong i do understand that the parents and the extended family need to also take responsibility for their actions but New Zealand as a whole needs to also. As we now know ‘p’ takes away all moral values from a person frame of mind and strips away the very essence of the soul. DPB also takes values away from the family bonds and this is apparent in the statistic of broken families, broken relationships, and feral children growing up in New Zealand!

03 Jul 2011 12:43a.m.

47 year old female wrote:

As a Maori, I cannot believe that not one of the whanau noticed any injury of the twins. If they were afraid of retribution, they should have asked for police protection or new identity and removal from the country before telling what they knew. How can a whanau member not notice a dislocated leg, or make a move towards urgent action with the levels of obvious damage to these babies? We know Mum was addled with P, and that babies had not been fed. What level of negligence does it take before somebody takes action? If people are afraid because of drug retribution or fear their statements might be regarded as a betrayal, then they need to sort out protection and reidentity before they make statements that are going to have them in pptentially dangerous situations with people involved.

03 Jul 2011 12:31a.m.

47 year old female wrote:

We should not have to pay to hear the truth. Why didn't she say all this book's worth of information in Court the first time?

03 Jul 2011 12:29a.m.

47 year old female wrote:

The Bain case was different in that Joe Karam was actually a lawyer. Ian Wishart is not, but is stepping into law boots without the credentials.

30 Jun 2011 07:02p.m.

animals wrote:

If this happened in the US they would both be doing life without parol.

30 Jun 2011 04:54p.m.

Arapera Morehu wrote:

I agree with most peoples comments. They should of locked up the whole family and made them talk. Their are to many Children, Babies getting Abused and Murdered we have a high case In New Zealand and abroad It has to stop. Two Beautiful Boys killed and covered up by the Family no protection or care or love or have the guts to tell the truth and come forward all it wouldn't of taken this long. My heart goes out to Children Here in New Zealand and all around who have been severely Murdered and abused STOP THE ABUSE AND VIOLENCE and stop people like this from having Children This seems to be an ongoing thing here in New Zealand and it needs to be sorted out before another Murder or abused child that has gone under the CARE of these Monsters!!

30 Jun 2011 02:54p.m.

T Smith wrote:

All 12 people should be charged! Both parents should be charge with murder. Disgraced!!!!!!

30 Jun 2011 02:40p.m.

Kiwi wrote:

If the twins were given a proper upbringing in a healthy family environment they would be alive and well today.Instead their murders,for that is what it is,have not identified who killed them.There has been numerous court cases of which the lawyers become rich thanks to legal aid.And this inquest is still lining the pockets of the lawyers.
If the killer(s)had any ounce of conscience they would have spoken up and said "yes I did it".But someone,possibly an immediate family member of the twins,has no conscience.It's like they think that they can get away with murder.
And meanwhile more taxpayers money is being wasted on trying to find out who or how two babies were killed 5 years later.
When the killer(s)have to meet their Maker will or perhaps they will have to account for their actions.
I know I am seeming harsh but stop this legal creaming of taxpayers money on this inquest.It will not bring justice to the two babies.No-one will take responsibility for what they did.

30 Jun 2011 12:34p.m.

James wrote:

You would think a double murder of two babies would make it easier to convict these responsible :-(.

30 Jun 2011 12:22p.m.

Emma wrote:

Fantastic!!! They both deserve to rot in jail for what they did to their darling boys. Wish this had have happened sooner... surely this was a obvious to the police as it was to all of us that there was MAJOR neglect as well as murder involved. The tight 12 should be following close behind them and sent to jail as well for not protecting these boys