Autopsy results may fill in gaps on twins' injuries

John Tims

Police hope medical evidence will give them a more accurate picture of when Chris and Cru Kahui were injured, as they continue to ask family members who was responsible for the deaths.

Officers have spoken to at least 20 whanau but others are yet to be interviewed.

Forensic scientists have finished working at the Mangere East house where the twins lived and have taken away several items for examination, including babies' clothing.

Police have also interviewed 90 non-family witnesses and 90 medical practitioners, including doctors, nurses, ambulance staff and hospital social workers who had contact with the 3-month-old boys.

The twins were taken to hospital on June 13 suffering multiple injuries and severe brain damage. They died five days later, after being removed from life support.

A report by Starship paediatrician Silvana Campanella to Child, Youth and Family has described the head injuries, subdural bleeding (between the skull and the brain) and retinal haemorrhages as typical of shaken baby syndrome.

Police initially said the investigation was focusing on the three to four days before the babies were taken to hospital, but more recently have refused to comment on the timing.

Detective Senior Sergeant John Tims said police were expecting the results from pathology tests next week.

"We're anticipating that the results ... will further help us piece things together in terms of being able to more accurately estimate the time the injuries were inflicted on these two babies."

Police have accused the family of stonewalling the investigation and revealed a decision was made not to co-operate with a criminal investigation until the go-ahead was given by a spokesperson or lawyers.

Mr Tims would not comment yesterday on the whanau's co-operation but noted that police still had people to interview.

"I'm pleased with the progress we're making and will continue to make," he said.

The twins' parents, Macsyne King and Chris Kahui snr, have been interviewed at least twice.

Lawyers for the couple have said their clients are co-operating with the inquiry.

The babies' deaths have prompted South Auckland community workers to call a hui to discuss their work with families.

The hui, Timatanga Hou (Time for Change), is scheduled to be held in Mangere on July 11.


SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME

An official report on the deaths of the Kahui twins has linked the brain injuries suffered by Chris and Cru to so-called shaken baby syndrome.

The report by Starship hospital paediatrician Silvana Campanella to Child, Youth and Family stated the head injuries, subdural bleeding and retinal haemorrhages were typical of the syndrome.

What is shaken baby syndrome?

Shaken baby syndrome (SBS), which may result in severe brain trauma, is caused when a child is violently shaken such that the head is subjected to back and forth motion in one or more directions resulting in rapid repeated severe acceleration and deceleration of the head. Activities involving an infant or a child such as tossing in the air, bouncing on the knee, placing a child in an infant swing or jogging with them in a back pack, do not cause SBS.

How can the injuries be dated and the time of injuries be determined?

Three major sources of information are used to establish the timing of intracranial injuries: clinical history, physiological data, and imaging. These sources work in synergy and, if used separately, may lead to apparent disagreements between experts. In most instances, imaging data is less precise than physiological data; clinical history is the most precise.

How can SBS be prevented?

Shaking occurs frequently when a frustrated caregiver loses control with an inconsolable baby. It is important to realise just saying "don't shake a baby" is not enough. A plan to deal with the situation needs to be offered. Parents and other care providers need assurance that allowing a baby to cry is all right if all the baby's needs have been met. The normal infant spends two to three hours a day crying; 20 to 30 per cent of infants exceed that. Crying becomes particularly problematic from 6 weeks to 4 months.

* Source: National Centre on Shaken Baby Syndrome, USA