KEY POINTS:
Nia Glassie's step-grandfather allegedly wrapped a scarf twice around her neck, then lifted her off the ground and strangled her with it until she turned purple.
After 10 seconds, he is said to have thrown her to the ground and verbally abused her when she cried.
These were
among new details of the abuse allegedly suffered by the 3-year-old revealed yesterday.
They surfaced at a bail hearing for three of the five people accused of abusing the toddler.
All three were denied bail amid a heavy police, media and family presence in the Rotorua District Court.
Judge Chris McGuire said part of the reason he refused bail was because the trio and the victim came from the same family, and there was a risk of interference with witnesses.
"For now, the victim herself, Nia Glassie, is silent forever from giving her own views. It does seem to me that child victims may on occasions like this deserve a voice beyond the immediate family."
Nia died in the Starship hospital last Friday after eight days in a coma with head and abdominal injuries.
Her cousin, Michael Pearson, 19, and 17-year-old Oriwa Kemp, who is the partner of Nia's stepfather's brother, were first to apply for bail.
It is alleged that they and Nia's stepfather, Wiremu Curtis, 17, and his brother, Michael Curtis, 21, assaulted Nia.
Judge McGuire said the four were allegedly responsible for "a series of events of cruelty and hurt to a very young child" which included Nia being "locked in a clothes dryer and the clothes dryer turned on".
He said two children were witnesses and had provided evidence to police but he suppressed their identity to protect their privacy.
A neighbour had also seen Nia picked up by a leg and thrown at the clothesline by the group.
She was allegedly spun from the line by her ankle until she fell off and was also seen running around on the roof of the house while the adults looked up and laughed.
There was also an allegation she was left at her kohanga reo in a filthy state and smelling of cannabis.
The judge remanded the two in custody until a pre-depositions hearing on September 27.
Pearson consented but Kemp - who kept her face to the ground for most of the 90-minute hearing - did not and the judge ordered her to reappear on Tuesday.
He also denied bail to William Curtis, 47, Nia's step-grandfather, who is charged with assaulting her and injuring her with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Curtis' alleged offending relates to an earlier period and police say that, unlike the other four, he is not likely to face further charges.
The allegations that he abused Nia were made by his daughter, who said he would walk up to Nia and push her on to the ground or into the wall, had slapped her face and threatened to stomp on her head.
Gasps could be heard in court as Judge McGuire related the incident with the scarf, saying it had led to the grievous bodily harm charge.
Curtis consented to be remanded in custody for a predepositions hearing on September 27.
A bail hearing for Michael Curtis will be held next Wednesday. Wiremu Curtis is due in Auckland District Court on Monday.
