Twins' family urged to speak up

The family of twin babies Chris and Cru Kahui are under pressure to name the person who inflicted multiple injuries during a "violent" event that killed them.

The 3-month-old boys died on Sunday from multiple injuries, including severe brain damage.

"Make no doubt that the event that ended Cru and Chris' lives was violent," Detective Senior Sergeant John Tims said yesterday.

Appealing for family members to shed light on the infants' deaths, Mr Tims said: "It is time for the family, extended family, to come forward and tell us what has happened, who is responsible, what triggered the event and who caused the injuries to Cru and Chris."

Police had been given an explanation for the injuries but Mr Tims said the investigation would establish what happened to the babies.

"I am convinced that friends [and] family have heard, seen or talked about the event."

The twins were taken to Middlemore Hospital by their mother last Tuesday.

They were quickly transferred to the Starship and police were alerted.

Police believe the boys were seriously assaulted in their family's Mangere home.

The investigation is focusing on the three to four days before the pair were taken to hospital.

Mr Tims said they had been in the care of extended family members, including their father, in the 12 hours before they were admitted to hospital.

"When the mother returned home she decided to take Chris and Cru to hospital."

Two older children were removed from the family home by Child, Youth and Family and treated at hospital for neglect.

Mr Tims said they appeared to be "underfed and slightly unclean".

A number of friends and family passed through the house during the six weeks that the twins were at home.

Mr Tims said several "key" people had not yet spoken to police.

However, he would not comment on whether the family were co-operating with the police investigation.

There were witnesses who "would like to go through the grief process prior to speaking to the police", he said.

Police were mindful of that grief, but he publicly appealed to the family to speak up.

Mr Tims said the family had described the boys as "unique babies" because they were twins and born premature at 29 weeks. They spent six weeks in the neo-natal intensive care unit at KidzFirst hospital.

The family received neo-natal home care, which includes visits to the home by a hospital nurse.

It is understood the last hospital visit took place within a week of Chris and Cru being admitted to hospital.

A spokeswoman for the Counties Manukau District Health Board said the boys "appeared to be well-nourished, healthy babies when they were last seen".

Mr Tims said Chris and Cru should have expected protection, shelter, food and care from their parents.

"On this occasion the expectation that Cru and Chris had was not met."

The community expected police to catch those responsible for inflicting the fatal injuries, he said.

"I am hopeful that the family and extended family have the same expectations of the police."