New guidelines for baby homicides after Kahui case
New guidelines have been drawn up for dealing with baby homicides as a result of the failed prosecution of Chris Kahui for his twin sons' murders.
An internal review of the police investigation confirmed detectives were under "intense pressure" during
the inquiry because of other Auckland murders but maintained there was "ample evidence" to charge Kahui.
A jury at the High Court in Auckland in May took only 10 minutes to find Kahui not guilty of the 2006 murders his three month old son Chris and Cru after a six week trial.
The heavily edited review, issued to The Dominion Post under the Official Information Act, revealed that police had written new guidelines for dealing with baby homicides "as a direct result" of the Kahui investigation, including how to manage a crime scene and consulting medical experts.
Kahui's acquittal sparked criticism of the police investigation, with Prime Minister Helen Clark and National leader John Key condemning the fact that no one had been held accountable for the deaths.
A lawyer who worked on the case accused police of being too eager to charge someone and "closed their eyes" to problems with the prosecution case.
But Detective Superintendent Malcolm Burgess, who conducted the review, concluded the investigation was thorough.
"There was ample evidence for this matter to lead to a prosecution and upon which a jury might have convicted."
The review put the cost of the investigation at $346,500, legal fees at $826,000, taking total costs to $1.15 million.
- NZPA
