The girls had suffered years of abuse at the hands of Howse and despite their cries for help, it never came. Related Content Video Watch: Alicia Aplin speaks for first time about the murder of her sisters John Drinnan: When does plain talk become hate speech? Howse killed the girls because he found out that they had disclosed his physical and sexual abuse and authorities were investigating. Child Youth and Family sent a letter to the girls' mother, Charlene Aplin, in November 2001, and on December 3 she picked up the phone and responded. Aplin lived with the abuse, her sisters lived with the abuse - they were simply too scared to tell anyone what was happening in their home.

Source: New Zealand Herald April 07, 2017 16:52 UTC