Nia's mother loses manslaughter appeal

Lisa Kuka, mother of murdered Rotorua pre-schooler Nia Glassie, has lost her appeal against her conviction and sentence for manslaughter.

The Court of Appeal said Kuka's prison term, effectively for nine years on two counts of manslaughter, could not be challenged.

"This was a stern sentence, but in our view it needed to be," the three-judge bench said.

Three-year-old Nia died of brain injuries on August 3, 2007. She had been physically abused for some time beforehand, including being kicked and being put in a clothes dryer at top heat.

Kuka's partner Wiremu Curtis and his brother Michael Curtis were convicted of her murder.

Manslaughter charges against Kuka alleged she failed to provide the necessaries of life and failed to protect a child from violence, thereby causing her death.

- NZPA