Pressure on Kahui twins' family rises as reward hits $50,000

The reward for information leading to the conviction of the Kahui twins' murderer has been doubled to $50,000 – a move  the twins' aunt believes could crack the case.

Denise King, half-sister of the twins' mother, Macsyna King, was unaware of the reward – which was first offered at $25,000 by Family First last month, and last week matched by Sensible Sentencing Trust supporter Michael Jacomb – until contacted by the Sunday Star-Times.

She said the lure of cash could persuade her siblings in the notorious "tight 12" – who had access to the three-month-old boys in their final days, but refused to co-operate with police investigations – to divulge what they knew.

"I know money says a lot. It might push people into telling the truth, saying what they know," said King. "They're tight, but they're not that tight."

The twins' father, Chris Kahui, was acquitted of their murders in 2008, after his legal team ran a defence implicating the mother. No one else has been charged over the twins' deaths in 2006, and police have said fresh information is required to restart the investigation. Inquiry head Detective Inspector John Tims said there was "not sufficient evidence to support any prosecution of Macsyna King in relation to the twins' death".

Since she learned of her nephews' deaths, Denise King has pressured her siblings to come clean about what they know. She is critical of police efforts to resolve the case, and believes that redoubling efforts to interview family members individually could lead to a breakthrough.

"I don't understand why no one has been held accountable for my nephews' death. I still firmly believe if you get each sibling on their own, you can force one or the other to open up," she said, adding that she believed Macsyna's eldest sister, Emily, who was with Macsyna on the night the twins' injuries were sustained, would be a crucial interview subject.

"Emily is the main key with Macsyna. Wherever Macs is, Emily's not far behind. I'm damn sure that Emily knows what happened."

Macsyna King is living with Emily and brother Stuart in rural Northland, operating a painting and decorating business together. The family were unavailable when the Star-Times visited on Friday, and did not respond to a request for comment.

Denise King said her half-siblings have had little to do with her in the wake of the deaths, and she was unaware of whether they knew the reward had been offered.

Child Youth and Family said last week that Chris Kahui had been allowed to move in with his new partner and their daughter, under the agency's supervision.

CYF head Ray Smith said the agency also had an "ongoing relationship" with King, despite the fact none of her children (to previous partners) was living with her. He would not say whether she had contact with children in her new home.

"Given [King and Kahui's] history and the fact they remain parents, we will continue to be actively engaged with them."

Last week Jacomb, a Hutt Valley businessman, pledged $25,000 on top of the $25,000 already put up by Family First in the hope it would help deliver justice.

"There's a rule that people have a right to silence," he said. "Well then I've got the right to put that money up to beat that silence. The country will be pleased to see a result there."

Sensible Sentencing Trust spokesman Garth McVicar said his organisation had been approached by a number of people offering to put up money to help "bring somebody out of the woodwork", raising the possibility the reward could increase.

"The tight 12 – one of them knows something. It's possible they don't have a lot of money. At some stage we'll get to that tipping point where their loyalty to their cohorts will be outweighed by their need for money."

He said the case also highlighted the need to revisit laws allowing suspects to maintain the right of silence in police investigations.

Bob McCoskrie, director of Family First, said family members who could be withholding crucial information may not be aware the reward was being offered. He hoped the financial incentive might be the "impetus they need to come clean, clear their conscience, provide that key piece of information that the police need, and deliver justice to Chris and Cru Kahui".

"The concept of having to offer a reward may irk some people, but in the end, if that's what it takes to bring someone to justice on a case which revolted the nation, then it is a cheap price to pay."

Terms and conditions of the Kahui reward offer are on Family First's website – www.familyfirst.org.nz

tim.hume@star-times.co.nz

- © Fairfax NZ News