An Australian family has learned that the man who killed their daughter and sister went on to stab Austin Hemmings.

The Kahui twins' support worker has expressed deep regret for not telling her colleagues about seeing their mother "dump" her baby in his cot while changing his nappy.

The Kahui family's social worker warned it was possible twins Chris and Cru could be at risk before they returned home a month before they died, but the warning was not acted on.

Professionals who worked with the Kahui family prior to the deaths of twinsChris and Cru had no cause for concern other than the parents' infrequent hospital visits, an inquest hears.

Medical professionals are supporting a coroner's suggestion that it be mandatory for them to report suspected child abuse cases to CYF.

In his first interview Josef Fritzl said his dream was to "look after my wife again because she was always loyal to me."

The man who murdered Good Samaritan Austin Hemmings spent eight years in an Australian jail for stabbing and killing his estranged girlfriend.

A witness to a huge street brawl has described how crowds armed with big pieces of wood charged at partygoers at a 21st birthday.

The trial has begun of a freezing worker accused of shooting dead his brother and driving around the lower North Island with him in the back seat, avoiding police during a two-day manhunt.

The widow of 'Good Samaritan' murder victim Austin Hemmings welcomed his killer's guilty plea outside court today and called for law-makers to toughen up on knife crime.

An 18-year-old man has appeared in court following the death of a man after a domestic dispute in Upper Hutt overnight.

A man who received severe brain injuries in a brawl at an Auckland 21st birthday party has been named and two men have appeared in court charged with his assault.

Engaging the health sector could reduce the "shameful" child abuse rate in NZ, an inquest into the deaths of the Kahui twins has heard.

A young man with severe brain injuries remains in a critical but stable condition after a huge brawl - possibly sparked by gatecrashers - at an Auckland 21st birthday party last night.

A coroner conducting an inquest into the deaths of Chris and Cru Kahui has turned his attention to the phenomenon of child abuse in NZ.

A young man with severe brain injuries was fighting for his life in hospital last night after a huge brawl - possibly sparked by gatecrashers - at an Auckland 21st birthday party.

A 22-year-old West Auckland man is in a critical condition following a brawl outside a 21st birthday party.

Wairoa police will meet with the town's mayor and the local MP next week after the second gang-related shooting in five days.