Detectives question parents of twins

Mother Macsyne King has made a statement to the police. Picture / Chris Skelton

Police yesterday swooped on a house where the family of dead twins Chris and Cru Kahui were staying, taking their parents and other adults in for questioning.

Chris Kahui snr and Macsyne King have made statements to the police investigating the deaths of their 3-month-old boys in the Starship hospital 10 days ago from multiple injuries and severe brain damage.

The police investigation into the deaths appeared to put Police Minister Annette King at odds with one of her Cabinet colleagues yesterday. While Ms King defended the police's handling of the case, Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia said he was frustrated by their approach.

"I think quite bluntly they've got to go and get 'em," he said.

Police have ruled out, at this stage, bringing charges against several whanau members because it would not help to find those responsible.

Ms King - who emphasised that by law she could not interfere in operational decisions - said the police were trying to get the best they could out of a difficult situation.

People were sometimes quick to criticise without all the facts, she said.

"It would be good if they were just as quick to praise. We've had some spectacular results in recent weeks.

"Many of them [the police] are mums and dads. It cuts them to the quick, these cases ... They are at the cutting edge of this and most of us never have to experience or see these things, but our police do.

"They've had something like 10,000 callouts for domestic violence in the last year in Counties Manukau.

"They face domestic violence every day, so have some faith and trust in people whose job it is to deal with these issues."

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples said he was disgusted by the behaviour of the family, who decided not to co-operate with police until a spokesperson or lawyers gave the go-ahead.

Dr Sharples' call for the police to take them in for questioning was echoed by NZ First MP Ron Mark.

"If those guilty of this horrendous murder are too gutless to come forward, then all those guilty of harbouring them must be arrested now for obstruction of justice," Mr Mark said.

The inquiry has focused on about 12 whanau members - including the twins' parents, aunt, uncle, cousins and grandfather - who had contact with the babies in the days before they were taken to hospital on June 13.

Chris Kahui and Macsyne King have made at least two statements to the police. Mr Kahui told them he did not know who inflicted the injuries.

His sister, Mona-Louise Kahui, and her partner, Stuart King - Macsyne King's brother - were also taken from the Papakura house yesterday.

Some of the family contacted their lawyers as four police cars waited at either end of Rollerson St.

Ms Kahui and Mr King have a 4-month-old daughter, whom Child, Youth and Family removed from the family's Mangere home after Chris and Cru were taken to hospital. The agency also removed the twins' older brother, Shane.

Ms Kahui's lawyer, Christopher Wilkinson-Smith, said she had voluntarily spoken to the police three times and "answered all the questions put to her. The police have made it clear to her at each interview that she is being interviewed purely as a witness."

Mr Wilkinson-Smith said Ms Kahui and Mr King wanted their daughter returned to them or extended family "as soon as it is appropriate".

A police spokeswoman said police would continue the investigation "in their own time" and would not be rushed to make an arrest.

Meanwhile, the National Party has raised doubts about the genuineness of Mr Horomia's call for a multi-party accord on family violence.

Party leader Don Brash asked why Mr Horomia had called deputy leader Gerry Brownlee on Sunday seeking a meeting about a multi-party accord on child homicide, when Helen Clark said on Monday that MPs would be asked to meet in several weeks when a ministerial taskforce had reported.

She responded by accusing Dr Brash of politicising the tragedy and said Mr Horomia had rung Mr Brownlee in good faith. Ministers would be inviting MPs to a first multi-party meeting this week.

- Additional reporting by NZPA