Kahui drug connection prompts reward boost

Upper Hutt millionaire Michael Jacomb who put up an extra $25,000 for anyone with information leading to the conviction of the Kahui twins' murderer says he has a personal interest in the case.

The twins' father, Chris Kahui, was acquitted of the 2006 murders after his legal team ran a defence implicating their mother, Macsyna King.

Police experienced much publicised difficulties with the case as family members dubbed the "tight 12" refused to cooperate and speak with investigators.

Family First last month offered a $25,000 reward for information and that was last week matched by Sensible Sentencing Trust supporter Mr Jacomb.

Mr Jacomb told Fairfax Media his daughter had fallen in with gangs and become addicted to the drug P, leaving him and his wife to raise their grandson, 14, and granddaughter, 8.

"[My daughter] was a lovely girl and P ruined her life. I've been told in no uncertain terms that P was well involved in what happened to the Kahui twins."

He hoped $50,000 would be enough to loosen the lips of some one within the tight 12.

"There is a drug problem there and for $50,000 they can buy a lot of drugs. We just need the person that knows a bit more to get into cahoots with one or two of the others.

"But they better get in quick."

Mr Jacomb's offer has an expiry date of just three months.

Macsyna King's half-sister Denise King said the lure of cash could persuade her siblings to speak up.

"I know money says a lot. It might push people into telling the truth, saying what they know. They're tight, but they're not that tight."

- NZPA