Kahui twins: $25k reward offered

Chris and Cru Kahui.

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A $25,000 reward is being offered for fresh evidence to catch the Kahui twins' killer.

Today, lobby group Family First is posting the reward in a bid to kick-start the stalled investigation into one of New Zealand's highest-profile child abuse cases. The money will be paid only if a conviction is secured, and police say they will assess any fresh information.

Family First national director Bob McCoskrie said the babies deserved justice.

"Somebody within the family knows what happened and who was responsible. It's time they cleared their conscience, came forward with the truth and got a decent night's sleep for the first time in four years."

Three-month-old Chris and Cru Kahui died in Starship Children's Hospital in June 2006, five days after being admitted with severe brain injuries.

Their extended family closed ranks, and it took four months before their father, Chris, was charged with the murders. He was sensationally acquitted in May 2008, after the jury deliberated for just one minute. His defence had been that their mother, Macsyna King, killed the boys. A double jeopardy law protects Chris Kahui from being retried, and no one else has ever been charged over the babies' deaths.

Last week the Sunday Star-Times revealed that the twins' inquest, due to start this month, had been postponed indefinitely.

That news prompted Family First, supported by the Sensible Sentencing and For the Sake of Our Children trusts, to post the reward. McCoskrie said the money had come from a private donor, who wanted to remain anonymous.

"New Zealanders want answers to this case – who killed the twins, why did the prosecution fail, and what were the contributing factors to these murders that need to be tackled to avoid similar cases in future?

"This should not be allowed to be swept under the carpet. We have two victims of child abuse screaming for justice – where are their rights?"

McCoskrie said the country was shocked and revolted by the case, and the police's job had been made more difficult by the family closing ranks and refusing to be interviewed.

"The message to child abusers has been that their rights will be given more weight than the rights of children to protection and justice."

He hoped no reward-seeker would provide incorrect information.

"A reward will only be paid if there is a conviction. So in the end, it will be a jury who determines if someone warrants the reward. $25,000 will be a small price to pay for justice to be served for Chris and Cru, who should have turned four next month."

The Kahui case is not closed, but police have previously said they needed fresh information to restart the investigation.

On Friday, the police officer who led the Kahui investigation, Detective Inspector John Tims, said any information generated by the reward would be "assessed and investigated if appropriate". He said not all information received could be "generated into admissible evidence which is required within the court process".

The terms and conditions of the Kahui reward offer, which include that the money will not be paid in cash and must be deposited into a bank account, are on Family First's website – www.familyfirst. org.nz.

McCoskrie said anyone with information should contact Family First via the website "in strictest confidence".

Meanwhile, a new date for the Kahui inquest has yet to be set. It was due to start on February 22, but was postponed because the large number of groups taking part – including two district health boards, GPs, the Families Commission and the Ministry of Social Development – meant more time was needed to prepare.

It is not known whether Kahui and King will be required to give evidence.

miriyana.alexander@star-times.co.nz

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