Toddler killer jailed for at least 20yrs, 6mths

Michael John Curran, 28, already serving nine years for the murder of his girlfriend, has been jailed for 'at least 20 yrs 6 mths'. Photo / Alan Gibson

A Tauranga man, who murdered a two-year-old toddler while on bail for killing his girlfriend, was sent back to jail for at least 20 years and six months by a High Court judge at Rotorua today.

Michael John Curran, 28, a father of three, was found guilty in November of murdering Tauranga toddler Aaliyah Morrissey in September 2005. At that time he was awaiting trial for the murder of Natasha Hayden, 24, at McLarens Falls Park near Tauranga in January 2005.

He was sentenced to nine years' jail for Ms Hayden's manslaughter, after being acquitted of her murder.

Today Justice Graham Lang sentenced Curran to life imprisonment, with a non parole period of 20-1/2 years. All details of Curran's first murder trial had been under strict suppression orders so as not to prejudice his trial for Aaliyah's murder.

Aaliyah's family lived two doors away from Curran and befriended him and his wife. On September 13, 2005, Curran bashed Aaliyah into an unconscious state while supposedly looking after the toddler.

Aaliyah died two days later at Starship Hospital. A consultant paediatrician at the hospital told last week's trial the girl had severe internal abdominal damage, extensive bruising to the face, trunk, buttock and limbs, a recently broken arm, and injuries to her ears and eyes. Her body carried 33 separate external bruises and cuts.

Curran admitted shaking her to stop her crying, but denied striking her and said he did not intend to hurt her.

After the verdict, it was revealed Curran had a list of more than 20 convictions, dating back to when as a 15-year-old, he was jailed for two years for indecent assault on a girl aged under 12.

Curran was acquitted of raping a woman in the toilet block of Tauranga's Memorial Park in 2002.

However, he was later found guilty of two charges of perverting the course of justice after attempting to get a family member and a friend to give him a false alibi.

Outside court Aaliyah's father Brad Morrissey reacted to the sentence.

"I think the judge did reflect on the brutality that this coward did and of course she was only a little girl," he told Radio New Zealand.

"I think he sent a message out to the public that this is not on and I think he gave him the harshest deterrent possible that he could, under the legislation."

The toddler's mother Hoana spoke of her relief the court process was over after a long and difficult journey.

"It took us two years before we finally got to trial and it was sort of like `oh yay, this should be the last'," she said.

Ms Hayden's parents were also at the sentencing.

- NZPA