William Curtis. Photo / Daily Post
William Curtis, the father of the two brothers who murdered Nia Glassie, is to stand trial this week for abuse of the Rotorua toddler.
Curtis, 49, allegedly wrapped a scarf twice around the 3-year-old's neck, then lifted her off the ground and strangled her with it until she was purple.
The allegation was made by his daughter, who said he also slapped Nia's face, threatened to stomp on her head, and would walk up to the toddler and push her on to the ground or into the wall. Curtis has denied the allegations, pleading not guilty to charges of assaulting and injuring Nia with intent to cause grievous bodily harm between March 1 and July 1 last year.
His trial begins on Thursday at the Rotorua District Court and is expected to last two days.
His sons, Wiremu and Michael, were found guilty of Nia's murder on November 18.
