Kahui 'in panic' that CYF would take baby - lawyer

Chris Kahui. Photo / Janna Dixon

Chris Kahui rang his lawyer in "an absolute panic" believing his new baby would be taken off his fiancee by authorities as soon as it was born, his lawyer says.

Lorraine Smith defended Mr Kahui when he was put on trial and found not guilty last year in the High Court at Auckland of murdering his twin sons, Chris and Cru.

Mrs Smith said she got a phone call from Mr Kahui at the hospital about 11.30 one night in November while his fiancee, suffering from labour pains, answered questions from a CYF worker. "I managed to calm him down, he was so frightened that it was difficult."

Mrs Smith said she managed to convince Mr Kahui to put the CYF worker on the phone and "an arrangement was made". She would not say what that arrangement was.

"My concern is that you had a young woman going into labour and her entire focus would be on having baby ... safely.

"The thought of her having to do that and trying to answer questions at the same time just made me physically ill," Mrs Smith said.

CYF was notified by Auckland Hospital staff who said they had concerns for the wellbeing of the baby about to be born to Marcia Ngapera and Mr Kahui.

CYF deputy chief executive Ray Smith said the organisation met medical professionals and was told there were no medical reasons why the baby's safety could not be discussed with Ms Ngapera at that time.

"Our paramount concerns were the safety of this newborn baby, and those concerns outweighed the desires of the parents."

He said the family agreed to a safety plan.

Mr Kahui is subject to a CYF plan which does not allow him to be with his baby daughter without a supervisor from his family.