Court decides Kahui to stand trial for sons' murder

Chris Kahui will stand trial for the murder of his twin three-month-old sons, a district court judge ruled today.

Judge Roy Wade made the ruling at the Manukau District Court this afternoon after an eight-day depositions hearing.

Kahui, 22, sitting alongside his defence team showed little emotion as Judge Wade read out his findings.

Judge Wade told the court it was plain from undisputed medical evidence both twins suffered head injuries which could not have been inflicted by their one-year-old brother.

The fatal head injuries were inflicted 24 hours prior to the boys being taken to the family doctor, he said.

During that crucial period only a small number of adults had the opportunity to inflict those injuries, he said.

There was an evidential basis that Kahui could be found guilty, he said.

After the two charges of murder were read Kahui said "No, I don't wish to plead guilty".

This morning crown prosecutors and defence lawyers gave their closing submissions after the final video of police interviewing Kahui was shown to the court.

Crown prosecutor Simon Moore told the court medical evidence, which had gone unchallenged by the defence, showed that the twins had been hurt intentionally.

Mr Moore criticised attacks on the credibility of the twins' mother Macsyna King.

The Crown said of the four adults in the house at the time the crown alleges the injuries were caused, Ms King was not one of them.

Defence lawyer Lorraine Smith told the court Kahui was not the only person to have the opportunity to hurt the twins.

Kahui will face trial at the Auckland High Court.