Release of toddler Nia's attacker angers community

Grave of murdered toddler Nia Glassie in Tokoroa. Photo / The Daily Post

As a man convicted of ill-treating Rotorua toddler Nia Glassie walks free, an inquest resumes its search for answers to ensure the horrific abuse she suffered never happens again.

The inquest, by Rotorua coroner Wallace Bain, formally opened in April but was adjourned until today so further evidence could be lodged with the court.

It is understood neither the Glassie family nor the kohanga reo where Nia went in Rotorua will be attending the inquest, which is expected to last five days.

A Rotorua lawyer, who asked not to be named, said the circumstances surrounding Nia's death needed to be looked at to ensure such child abuse never occurs again.

Among the questions were why Nia, 3, was subjected to violence by close family members and caregivers, what measures were taken to ensure her safety, what monitoring or oversight existed and how she was failed.

Nia suffered massive head injuries inflicted by her mother's partner and his brother after they kicked her in the head.

She died in Auckland's Starship hospital on August 3, 2007, nearly two weeks after she was taken to Rotorua Hospital in a coma that had already lasted for more than a day.

Her stepfather, Wiremu Curtis, and his brother Michael Curtis were found guilty of her murder in November 2008 and sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 17 years in November 2008.

Her mother, Lisa Kuka, is serving nine years in prison after she was found guilty of two counts of manslaughter for not protecting her from violence and not taking her for medical help after the Curtis brothers kicked her in the head.

Nia's cousin Michael Pearson and Michael Curtis' girlfriend, Oriwa Kemp, 19, were found guilty of assaulting Nia.

Pearson was sentenced to three years' jail and Kemp to three years and four months. Pearson was released from prison last month, upsetting people in the Rotorua community who said they should have been told.

The Herald understands he is living with a relative in Rotorua.

Kemp is back in prison for repeated breaches of her parole conditions. She is due to be released in December.

In Frank St, where Nia was abused, residents were shocked that Pearson had been released without their knowledge and could be somewhere in their community.

Theresa Absolum, who now lives at the house where the crimes happened, said: "Of course I'd like to know where that bastard [Pearson] got to. He should never have got out, never. Not for what he did to that poor little girl."

Rose Hunter, who has lived in Frank St for 12 years, said Pearson would be a brave man to show his face in Rotorua.

"He's going to walk into a pub and he's going to get his head punched in.

"The thing is, if it's good enough for them to let us know when paedophiles are being released into the community, then why don't they let us know about this guy?"

Katrina Casey, Department of Corrections general manager community probation services, said that Pearson could not be recalled to prison because he had served his full sentence but a breach of his release conditions could result in 12 months in jail.

Ms Casey said Corrections considered whether the community should be notified that a prisoner was to be released on a case-by-case basis.

"In general, CPS and the police work closely together and share information about high-risk offenders in the community."