A father has denied murdering his 22-month-old daughter.
Rikki Whititera Mark Hotham (Hopa), 30, appeared in the High Court at Rotorua before Justice Paul Heath yesterday. He pleaded not guilty plea to murdering Tyla-Maree Darryl Flynn at Tokoroa between June 28 and June 29 last year.
He also pleaded not guilty
to one charge of failing to get medical attention for the child and three charges of assaulting her by burning her.
Tyla-Maree was taken to Tokoroa Hospital by her mother about 9.50am on June 29 last year with serious burns to her body. She died an hour later.
Her father was arrested following a nine-month investigation by police.
Justice Heath remanded Hotham on bail, with strict conditions, to appear in the High Court at Rotorua on November 6 for a pre-trial hearing and confirmation of a trial date, expected to be held in February.
Hotham must live at Putaruru, not consume alcohol or have access to children under the age of 16.
He must also report to police three times weekly.
