Kahui interview a 'major development'

Chris Kahui and lawyer Lorraine Smith arrive at a police station in South Auckland today. Picture / Greg Bowker

Police have described an interview today with the father of the murdered Kahui twins as a "major development".

Chris Kahui left the police station at 1.15pm after a five-hour interview with officers investigating the deaths of the three-month-old boys.

He and his lawyer Lorraine Smith got into a car outside Harlech House in Otahuhu and left without answering questions.

Afterwards, the head of the inquiry Detective Senior Sergeant John Timms said the interview had been a "major development".

"We are one step closer to completing the jigsaw puzzle," he said. "There are other family members we need to speak to.

"Mr Kahui was co-operative."

Mr Kahui, 21, was not arrested.

Police had previously been highly critical of the family for their "stonewalling" tactics and their refusal to cooperate with investigators.

But today Mr Kahui arrived at the South Auckland police station after his lawyer said he would give police the whole day to tell what he knew about the deaths of the three-month-old twins on June 18.

The twins - Chris and Cru - died five days after they were taken to Middlemore Hospital with traumatic head injuries. Both also had previously broken ribs and one had a broken thigh bone.

Mr Kahui, wearing a white shirt, dark blue jeans and black sneakers, arrived in his lawyer's BMW just after 8am.

He did not respond to questions from the seven reporters and cameramen waiting outside the police station.

Mr Kahui was met inside the police station Mr Timms.

Police have said some family members continued to hide behind a web of lies and deception.

In a Sunday newspaper, Mr Kahui said he had not killed his sons but he had not spoken to police because he feared anything he said could be used against him.