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Frustrated police have compared their inquiry into the injuries inflicted on a five-month-old Motueka boy to the ill-fated Kahui investigation.
The infant suffered a fractured skull, suspected brain damage and an injury so bad that one paediatrician had only previously seen it in a child that fell 11 storeys.
Police said the injuries were deliberately inflicted last month but the five members of the child's extended family _ including his parents _ who were present during that timeframe, have closed ranks.
Despite holding meetings into the small hours, no one has come forward to identify the offender, a situation echoing the infamous Kahui "tight 12" and their "wall of silence," after the murders of twins Cris and Cru.
The officer in charge of the Motueka case, Detective Sergeant Kevin Tiernan of Nelson CIB, told the Herald on Sunday this week that little headway had been made.
"It's like the Kahui twins, isn't it? We know something has been done but if no one wants to tell us who has done it then it's hard to prove.
"This is not TV. No one is going to break down and confess, like on CSI. And with no witnesses ... it's very difficult," Tiernan said.
The injuries were "definitely not" accidental.
"There is a small pool of possible suspects," Tiernan said.
Despite the slow progress he was optimistic the child abuser would be brought to justice.
From the small town of Motueka, the seriously ill infant was rushed to Starship Hospital the day after Labour Day. His 21-year-old mother and 30-year-old father, who Tiernan revealed were already "known" to police, called an ambulance after finding their only child unresponsive.
The baby was found to have a fractured skull and spent more than a week in intensive care. Doctors have confirmed he has suffered brain damage, but they do not yet know the extent. Tiernan said doctors told him a "retinal fold" behind the eyes indicated a particularly "violent episode".
The detective had visited the boy in Starship Hospital last week to interview his parents, who both deny harming their baby, but have provided no explanation for his horrific injuries.
The infant was hooked up to various machines and a ventilator, Tiernan said, and his eyes were completely bandaged up.
Medical staff had since determined the infant's injuries to have been caused by a "rapid acceleration and decceleration movement" although they did not want to go as far as saying it was definitely a case of shaken baby syndrome.
"It could mean slamming the baby's head backwards and forwards into a table ... that could have the same effect," Tiernan said.
"The extent of damage to the eyes does indicate a particularly violent episode."
The child was flown to Nelson Hospital on Wednesday, had since been discharged, and, under the direction of CYFS, was now with caregivers unrelated to the family. The parents would be allowed "limited, supervised access" a spokesperson said.
Doctors did not yet know the extent of the brain damage, the effects of which may not be apparent for months or years.
"It's now a matter of watching and waiting as he passes _ or doesn't _ every normal milestone," Tiernan said.
Tiernan said whoever was responsible would likely face a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, which carried a maximum sentence of 14 years.
