Dead baby twins inquiry passed to Coroner

Last updated 16:14 06/03/2013

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The deaths of twin premature babies found at a Bay of Plenty property are not being treated as suspicious, and the matter has been passed to the Coroner, say police.

Police were called after the bodies were discovered. Whakatane CIB dug in the backyard of a Matata home, and examined other areas of the property.

An investigation will include an autopsy and liaison with medical experts.

The age or gender of the babies have not been released.

The family involved was distressed and support had been put in place, police have said.

Parents are not legally required to bury a baby in a cemetery or have it cremated, if it was stillborn before the 20th week of pregnancy and weighed less than 400 grams.

In that case, it could be buried in a place of the parents' choice.

A baby stillborn after the 20th week of pregnancy, or weighing 400 grams or more when born must be buried or cremated in a registered place.

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