The trial of Chris Kahui for the murder of his twin baby sons is to begin on Monday, almost 21 months after their deaths.
Three-month-old Chris and Cru Kahui died from severe head injuries on June 18, 2006, about 14 hours apart, at the Starship hospital after theirlife-support systems were turned off.
The case in the High Court at Auckland will be heard by Justice Geoffrey Venning and is expected to take seven weeks.
The prosecution, led by Crown Solicitor Simon Moore, assisted by Richard Marchant and Simon Mount, will involve 70 witnesses, including the twins' mother, Macsyna King.
Defence lawyers Lorraine Smith and Michele Wilkinson-Smith will call about 40 witnesses.
The twins were taken to hospital on June 13, 2006, by their mother after a visit by both parents to Otahuhu Family Medical Centre.
The police investigation after the deaths was hampered by stonewalling by family members and it was not until October that Kahui was arrested.
The Crown alleges the injuries were caused on June 12 while the twins were in Kahui's care.
A key argument in the case will centre on expert medical and pathologists' opinion as to the timing of the injuries that caused the deaths. Prosecution and defence will call separate specialist witnesses.
