Parents visit grave as secret report reveals twins' injuries

Macsyne King and Chris Kahui yesterday visiting the grave of their twin sons at the Mangere Lawn Cemetery. Picture / Janna Dixon

A confidential medical report into the injuries suffered by the Kahui twins has revealed one of the boys suffered a skull fracture from a major blow to the head.

The report from registered paediatrician Silvana Campanella to Child Youth and Family gives the first detailed insight into the multiple injuries inflicted on three-month-old twin boys Chris and Cru Kahui.

All that has been revealed to date is that the boys died from severe unexplained head injuries.

A theory from Kahui family spokeswoman Ani Hawke that the boys were shaken to death is backed by the report, with Dr Campanella saying the head injuries, subdural bleeding and retinal haemorrhages were typical of so-called shaken baby syndrome. However, in Chris Kahui's case there was also evidence of a skull fracture which would have resulted from a blow to the head.

Chris had also suffered a fractured right femur.

According to Dr Campanella, who treated the boys on their arrival at Starship Hospital's paediatric intensive care unit, both had massive brain injuries with subdural bleeding as well as acute bleeding in the fluid-filled space in each half of the brain.

A number of bruises were also found on the twins.

The injuries were so severe the twins had to be incubated and put on ventilators because they could no longer breathe for themselves. Both also received medication to control seizures they were having.

Dr Campanella said the twins also had their eyes examined by an ophthalmologist and it was found they had suffered multiple haemorrhages within the retina, or inner layer of the eye.

The report also discounted any possibility the deaths were accidental, with Dr Campanella saying the head injuries were evidence that "someone has injured these babies and therefore these babies have been abused".

"There is concern that, in the absence of any history of an accidental mechanism to explain these injuries, these babies have an inflicted injury," Dr Campanella said.

The Mangere twins were first admitted to Auckland's Starship Hospital on June 13 and died five days later.

Police had interviewed family members about the death of the boys, but the investigation team had been stonewalled by the refusal of the family to reveal who was responsible.