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Encyclopedia > Chris and Cru Kahui
Wikinews has news related to:
Twin babies in NZ foster home die of head injuries

Christopher Arepa and Cru Omeka Kahui (20 March 2006[1] – 18 June 2006) were two New Zealand infants from a Māori family who died in Auckland's Starship Children's Hospital after being admitted with serious head injuries.[2] Their family initially refused to cooperate with police in the homicide investigation into the children's deaths. On 26 October 2006, Police charged their father, 21-year-old, Christopher Sonny Kahui with their murder.[3] Image File history File links WikiNews-Logo. ... Wikinews is a free-content news source and a project of the Wikimedia Foundation. ... March 20 is the 79th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (80th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 18 is the 169th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (170th in leap years), with 196 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Languages Māori, English Religions Māori religion, Christianity Related ethnic groups other Polynesian peoples, Austronesian peoples The word Māori refers to the indigenous people of New Zealand and their language. ... Schematic map of Auckland. ... Etymology: Latin homicidium, from homo- human being + caedere- to cut, kill Homicide refers to the act of killing another human being. ... October 26 is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 66 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...


The case has highlighted the fact that Māori children are more than twice as likely to die as a result of abuse than non-Māori[4] and that New Zealand ranks third highest among OECD nations for child deaths due to maltreatment according to a 2003 UNICEF report.[5] The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation of those developed countries that accept the principles of representative democracy and a free market economy. ... Note: for practices of systematically killing very young children, see infanticide For the killing of ones own children, see filicide. ... UNICEF Logo The United Nations Childrens Fund or UNICEF (Arabic: ; French: ; Spanish: ) was established by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946. ...

Contents

Before deaths

They were the two survivors of triplets born premature at 29 weeks on 20 March 2006 at National Women's Hospital at Grafton. They spent six weeks at the KidzFirst neonatal intensive care unit at Counties-Manukau hospital. During this time nurses at the facility and social workers had informally raised concerns with a Child, Youth and Family worker, as the parents, Chris Kahui and Macsyne King did not spend a lot of time with the babies. According to the hospital, parents not visiting is not considered child abuse, but was a "cause for concern".[6] Identical triplet brothers Quadruplet, quintuplet, etc. ... Premature birth (also known as preterm birth) is defined medically as childbirth occurring earlier than 37 completed weeks of gestation. ... March 20 is the 79th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (80th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Grafton is an Auckland suburb. ... A newborn infant sleeping in his incubator. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... The Department of Child, Youth and Family Services (In Māori, Te Tari Awhina I te Tamaiti, te Rangatahi, tae atu ki te Whanau), commonly known as the shorter Child, Youth and Family, or by its acronym, CYFS, is a state sector organisation of New Zealand whose role is the... Child abuse is the physical or psychological maltreatment of a child by an adult, often synonymous with the term child maltreatment or the term child abuse and neglect. ...


There had been regular visits to the family home by the hospital as the infants were still technically patients of Middlemore Hospital. At their last visit to the hospital, Chris and Cru were reported to be healthy and well-fed. However the autopsy showed the twins had suffered fractured ribs in an incident previous to the fatal injuries.


Deaths

Their mother, Macsyne King, on 13 June, returned to the house after being away overnight. She found the boys had extensive bruising, and that William "Banjo" Kahui, their grandfather, had performed CPR on them. Police have said he was not the only person in the house at the time. Former MP John Tamihere claimed on 21 June that a member of the Kahui extended family had told him "a young relative" was caring for the babies when they were fatally injured.[7] King and the father, Chris Kahui, took the infants to the family G.P. who ordered immediate hospitalisation. Instead of going to Middlemore Hospital, only 10 minutes away, the parents went to McDonald's and then returned home for several hours.[8] They were eventually taken to Middlemore Hospital by their mother, Macsyne King. Doctors immediately found that they had serious brain injuries.[1] After being transferred to Starship hospital the police were informed by the hospital. Both were taken off life support, with Cru being the first to die at 5 a.m. on 18 June and Chris died at 6:45 p.m. later in the day. This resulted in the initial serious assault investigation by the police being upgraded to homicide.[9] June 13 is the 164th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (165th in leap years), with 201 days remaining. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ... John Tamihere serves as a New Zealand politician. ... June 21 is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 193 days remaining. ... McDonalds Corporation (NYSE: MCD) is the worlds largest chain of fast-food restaurants, primarily selling hamburgers, chicken, french fries, milkshakes and soft drinks. ... Life support, in the medical field, refers to a set of therapies for preserving a patients life when essential body systems are not functioning sufficiently to sustain life unaided. ... June 18 is the 169th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (170th in leap years), with 196 days remaining. ... Etymology: Latin homicidium, from homo- human being + caedere- to cut, kill Homicide refers to the act of killing another human being. ...


Other injuries included a skull fracture from blunt force trauma and a broken femur to Chris Kahui. An orthopaedic specialist told The Sunday Star-Times that to break the femur of a baby would require it to be bent to a 90 degree angle, ruling out an accidental cause of the injury.[10] A skull fracture is a break in one or more of the bones in the skull caused by a head injury. ... In medicine, blunt force trauma is a type of physical trauma caused by impact from a blunt object. ... The femur or thigh bone is the longest, most voluminous, and strongest bone of the human body. ... This fracture of the lower cervical vertebrae, known as a teardrop fracture is one of the conditions treated by orthopaedic surgeons. ... The Sunday Star-Times is a weekly newspaper published in Auckland, New Zealand. ...


The bodies were released to the family on 21 June and taken to the Manurewa marae for a tangihanga (funeral rites). They were buried at the Manukau City cemetery on 24 June.[11] June 21 is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 193 days remaining. ... Manurewa is the southernmost major suburb of Manukau, one of the four cities that make up the conurbation of Auckland in the North Island of New Zealand. ... A Maori word now common in New Zealand English, marae refers an area of land where the Wharenui or meeting house (literally big house) sits. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ...


While the infants were in hospital, Child, Youth and Family removed a 12-month-old brother Shane and their female cousin Cayenne, aged six months from two rented Housing New Zealand homes — one in Clendon, the other in Mangere — where the Kahui babies had lived. Police said they were treated in hospital for injuries resulting from "neglect". They had been found to be malnourished and "dirty".[12] According to the Herald on Sunday newspaper, the two children will be returned to the family soon. But neither the parents or so-called "Tight 12" of family members who initially refused to cooperate with police, will be their caregivers.[13] The Department of Child, Youth and Family Services (In Māori, Te Tari Awhina I te Tamaiti, te Rangatahi, tae atu ki te Whanau), commonly known as the shorter Child, Youth and Family, or by its acronym, CYFS, is a state sector organisation of New Zealand whose role is the... Clendon is the name of a South Auckland suburb in Manukau City, Auckland, New Zealand. ... Mangere is one of the larger suburbs of Manukau City, one of the four cities that make up the conurbation of Auckland, New Zealand, in northern New Zealand. ... Child abuse is the physical or psychological maltreatment of a child by an adult, often synonymous with the term child maltreatment or the term child abuse and neglect. ... Malnutrition is a general term for the medical condition caused by an improper or insufficient diet. ...


Homicide investigation

The police believe while the infants were in hospital, but before their deaths, the family agreed to be uncooperative with any investigation.[14] Pita Sharples, the co-leader of the Māori Party had said the family had agreed to talk to police on 26 June,[15] but this did not happen.[16] Following this Sharples said he was disgusted by the behaviour of the family. He claimed some members of the family were more interested in going "to the pub and have a drink" than coming forward to police. Prime Minister Helen Clark said it was "absolutely shocking" for the family to hide behind the funeral and that everyone in the country was "shocked and revolted" by the injuries.[17] There were even reports that gang members were threatening the Kahui family in utu (or revenge) over their refusal to speak.[18] Dr. Pita Russell Sharples (born 20 July 1941), a Māori academic and politician, currently co-leads the Māori Party, he currently is the member for Tamaki Makaurau(Auckalnd City) in New Zealands Parliament. ... The Māori Party, a political party in New Zealand based around Māori citizens, formed around Tariana Turia, a former Labour Party member who had been a New Zealand Cabinet minister in the current Labour-dominated coalition government. ... June 26 is the 177th day of the year (178th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 188 days remaining. ... The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealands head of government and is the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand. ... For other persons named Helen Clark, see Helen Clark (disambiguation). ... This does not cite its references or sources. ...


After refusing to speak to police in the week after the death, police went to family homes on 27 June. They escorted at least four family members to police stations.[19] This included the children's mother and aunt.[20] By 4 July at least 20 extended family members had been interviewed. Along with them, 90 medical practitioners and staff who were in contact with the babies have been questioned.[21] Items including clothing were removed from the homes by forensic scientists.[22] Police say that the family is no longer "stone-walling" their inquiries, but a prima facie case had yet to be established. Sunday News reported on 17 September that the list of suspects was down to three and an arrest was imminent.[23] This was followed by a police statement nine days later that they now know who was responsible for the deaths but that other family members could still be charged with related crimes.[24] June 27 is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 187 days remaining. ... For the United States holiday, the Fourth of July, see Independence Day (United States). ... Look up prima facie in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... September 17 is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years). ...


Two half-sisters of the twins' mother Macsyne King, appeared on TVNZ's Sunday 23 July episode. They claimed that Macsyne and her brother, Robert King had told them the name of the killer. TNVZ censored the name when one of the woman said it, but the gender was revealed to be male.[25] This gender was contradicted by the twins' paternal grandmother, who appeared the next day on TV3's Campbell Live, stating the killer was female.[26] Current TVNZ logo Television New Zealand (TVNZ) is the main broadcaster of television in New Zealand, established in 1980 through the merger of Television One and TV2 (formerly South Pacific Television). ... July 23 is the 204th day (205th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 161 days remaining. ... TV3 is a commercial television station in New Zealand. ...


The homes where the babies lived were also home to at least nine adult occupants, eight of whom were on some form of social welfare. They may have been receiving payments totalling between $845 and $1395 a week, depending on their ages and circumstances.[27] This has prompted an investigation by Work and Income New Zealand as to whether all the payments were legitimate.[28] The Clendon house had been occupied for two to three months but no sign that babies were living there was noted by the neighbours. They said Tuesday and Thursday nights were "party night" as this was when benefit payments were made. Loud music and fighting was often heard. One neighbour said a sixteen-year-old female appeared on their doorstep at 3:30 a.m. one morning after she said an older man at the Clendon house attempted to sexually assault her.[1] Social security primarily refers to a field of social welfare concerned with social protection, or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment, families with children and others. ...


Murder arrest

The 1 October edition of the Sunday Star-Times newspaper published an interview with the twins father, Chris Kahui. In it he said that he did not kill his sons, but that if Police did not find anyone else "I go down for something I didn't do".[29] He was interviewed by Police on 3 October, which was called by investigators a "major development".[30] October 1 is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... October 3 is the 276th day of the year (277th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ...


On 26 October, a "carload of detectives" had gone to several addresses looking for Chris Kahui, who was brought in for questioning. At 10 p.m., it was announced in a press conference that a 21-year-old man had been arrested and charged with the murder of the twins, and would appear in the Manukau District Court the next day. Although Police have not confirmed it, this man was speculated to be Chris Kahui. No other family members would be facing charges with relation to the deaths.[3] October 26 is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 66 days remaining. ...


Contrary to this, the Sunday News reported on 31 December 2006, an unnamed source as saying a second arrest was expected. Neither the exact charges that would be laid nor the relationship of the person to the infants were revealed.[31] Three weeks later the same newspaper said four people involved in the investigation had been summonsed to the appear at the Manukau district court on 24 January. Sources told the newspaper that the new charges relate to dead infants and a pre-school child, with one of those to be charged Macsyna King, the mother of Chris and Cru. [32] As of 5 February this has not taken place. December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 24 is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... February 5 is the 36th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...


Kahui appeared in the Number One court of the Manukau District Court on 27 October for a two-minute hearing where he was formally charged with murder. He was asked not to plea, though outside the court his lawyer, Lorraine Smith, said her client would "fight the charges".[3] He was remanded in custody until a bail hearing on 10 November, when he was freed on bail.[33] A pre-depositions hearing was held January 17. He was remanded on bail for a further pre-depositions hearing on March 21. This was so his lawyer could read 60 files of evidence collected by police, and for a medical expert from Australia to become available. [34] District courts are a category of courts which exists in several nations. ... October 27 is the 300th day of the year (301st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 65 days remaining. ... A prisoner who is denied, refused or unable to meet the conditions of bail, or who is unable to post bail, may be held in a prison on remand until their criminal trial. ... The word bail as a legal term means: Security, usually a sum of money, exchanged for the release of an arrested person as a guarantee of that persons appearance for trial. ... November 10 is the 314th day of the year (315th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 51 days remaining. ... In law, a deposition is evidence given under oath and recorded for use in court at a later date. ... January 17 is the 17th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... March 21 is the 80th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (81st in leap years). ...


According to the Herald on Sunday the Microsoft Word file containing the press release announcing the arrest of Kahui had actually been created five days earlier, and the last edit was the day before the arrest. In the same article, the Herald reported the Police were questioning whether Kahui was actually the biological father of the twins.[35] Microsoft Word, or Microsoft Office Word, is Microsofts flagship word processing software. ...


References

  1. ^ a b c Carroll du Chateau, Louisa Cleave. "The Kahui twins: Murder — and the cover-up", Weekend Herald, 2006-06-24. Retrieved on 2006-07-05.
  2. ^ Diaz, Deborah. "Signs of earlier abuse of Kahui twins", The Dominion Post, 2006-07-18. Retrieved on 2006-07-18.
  3. ^ a b c "Kahui twins' father charged", Dominion Post, 2006-10-27. Retrieved on 2006-10-27.
  4. ^ http://www.socialreport.msd.govt.nz/2004/safety/child-abuse-neglect.html
  5. ^ (2003) A League Table of Child Maltreatment Deaths in Rich Nations (PDF), UNICEF, pg. 4. ISBN 88-85401-94-5. Retrieved on 2006-07-04. 
  6. ^ "Nurses raised concern before twins' deaths", NZPA, 2006-06-25. Retrieved on 2006-07-04.
  7. ^ Diaz, Deborah. "Twins 'in care of youngsters'", The Dominion Post, 2006-06-22. Retrieved on 2006-07-04.
  8. ^ "Kahui twins' parents put burgers before babies", Herald on Sunday, 2006-09-17. Retrieved on 2006-09-17.
  9. ^ "Police probe deaths of twins", The Press, 2006-06-19. Retrieved on 2006-07-04.
  10. ^ Hume, Tim. "We know who killed the twins - aunts", The Sunday Star-Times, 2006-07-02. Retrieved on 2006-07-04.
  11. ^ "Kahui twins interred", Newstalk ZB, 2006-06-24. Retrieved on 2006-07-04.
  12. ^ "Post mortem details of twins released", Newstalk ZB, 2006-06-20. Retrieved on 2006-07-04.
  13. ^ "Kahui kids to return to family", NZ Herald, 2006-09-10. Retrieved on 2006-09-11.
  14. ^ Field, Michael. "Twins' family 'agreed to thwart police'", The Dominion Post, 2006-06-24. Retrieved on 2006-07-04.
  15. ^ "Sharples confident family will talk", Radio New Zealand, 2006-06-26. Retrieved on 2006-07-04.
  16. ^ "Kahui Family Fail To Front To Police", NewsWire, 2006-06-26. Retrieved on 2006-07-04.
  17. ^ "Kahui silence disgusting, says Sharples", NZPA, 2006-06-27. Retrieved on 2006-07-04.
  18. ^ "Gangs want utu against Kahui family", Newstalk ZB, 2006-06-27. Retrieved on 2006-07-04.
  19. ^ Martin Kay, NZPA. "Police bring family in for interviews", The Dominion Post, 2006-06-28. Retrieved on 2006-07-04.
  20. ^ "Kahui Family Talking To Police", NewsWire, 2006-06-28. Retrieved on 2006-07-04.
  21. ^ Field, Michael. "20 questioned in twins case", The Dominion Post, 2006-07-04. Retrieved on 2006-07-04.
  22. ^ "Baby clothes taken from Kahui home", Newstalk ZB, 2006-07-03. Retrieved on 2006-07-04.
  23. ^ "Kahui twins homicide suspect list down to 3 - report", NZPA, 2006-09-17. Retrieved on 2006-09-17.
  24. ^ "We know who killed the twins, say police", NZPA, 2006-09-27. Retrieved on 2006-09-27.
  25. ^ "Police play down arrests in Kahui case", NZPA, 2006-07-24. Retrieved on 2006-07-25.
  26. ^ "Grandmother of dead twins disputes killer is a male", NZPA, 2006-07-25. Retrieved on 2006-07-25.
  27. ^ "Taxpayers shell out for Kahuis", The New Zealand Herald, 2006-06-27. Retrieved on 2006-07-04.
  28. ^ Kay, Martin. "Killing of twins prompts dole blitz", The Dominion Post, 2006-07-04. Retrieved on 2006-07-04.
  29. ^ "I didn't kill twins, asserts father", NZPA, 2006-10-01. Retrieved on 2006-10-27.
  30. ^ "Progress but no arrest in Kahui case", NZPA, 2006-10-03. Retrieved on 2006-10-27.
  31. ^ "Fresh twist in Kahui case", Sunday News, 2006-12-31. Retrieved on 2006-12-31.
  32. ^ "Four in court for Kahui case", Sundays News, 2007-01-21. Retrieved on 2007-01-21.
  33. ^ "Kahui twins' father granted bail", 2006-11-10. Retrieved on 2006-11-10.
  34. ^ "Kahui twins' father reappears in court", NZPA, 2007-01-17. Retrieved on 2007-01-17.
  35. ^ "Kahui twins' paternity questioned", 2006-10-29. Retrieved on 2006-10-29.

 
 

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