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Nia Glassie's stepfather was surrounded by whanau sheltering him from waiting photographers as he left court yesterday.
Wiremu Curtis remains on bail after a hearing at the Rotorua District Court to decide whether he is remanded in custody was delayed until tomorrow.
The 17-year-old is one of five
people accused of abusing 3-year-old Nia, who died on August 3.
Curtis is the only one on bail.
Nia's mother, 34-year-old Lisa Kuka, who was in a relationship with the 17-year-old for two years before Nia died, was outside the court. It is not known whether the couple are still together.
Police opposed bail but Curtis' lawyer argued that it should be continued after initially being granted by the Auckland District Court on July 26.
Curtis is jointly accused, with his brother Michael Curtis, Michael's girlfriend Oriwa Kemp, and Nia's cousin Michael Pearson, of assaulting Nia between July 18 and 20. The Curtis brothers' father, William Curtis, is alleged to have abused the toddler between March 1 and July 1.
At a second appearance at the Auckland District Court on Monday, Wiremu Curtis' bail was continued and his case transferred to Rotorua.
Rotorua prosecutor Fletcher Pilditch yesterday told Judge James Weir that police inquiries into Nia's death were continuing and more charges were possible.
He urged the judge to revoke bail.
But Wiremu Curtis' lawyer, Nigel Cooke, argued Judge Weir had no power to overturn the earlier ruling.
Both lawyers provided copies of earlier rulings to support their positions, but the judge said he needed time to read them before making a decision.
He adjourned the hearing until 9.30am tomorrow, allowing Wiremu Curtis to leave the court with his supporters.
Earlier in court, Mr Cooke had asked for media coverage of the hearing to be banned, saying there had already been too much publicity about the case and more could prejudice a trial. But Judge Weir said there was no merit in the application and allowed cameras in the court.
Michael Curtis, 21, and Kemp, 17, also made brief appearances in the dock.
Michael Curtis was scheduled to appear for a bail hearing, but his lawyer said he had now consented to being remanded in custody until a predepositions hearing on September 27.
Kemp has not consented to being held in custody and her lawyer asked for a further remand for seven days after she, Michael Pearson and William Curtis were denied bail last week.
Pearson, 19, and William Curtis, 47, have consented to remain in custody until predepositions.
William Curtis faces charges of assault and injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Police say they are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination before deciding whether to lay further charges in relation to Nia Glassie's death.
