More tragedy for Nia's family

The grieving family of Rotorua toddler Nia Glassie have suffered another shattering blow after a close relative died violently.
Ambulance officers found the body of 25-year-old Kupa Tearoa in his home after a report of a stabbing yesterday about 7.30am - just a day after the funeral of Mr Tearoa's father and 22 months after his 5-year-old brother died when a delivery truck hit him.
His mother had also died recently - and one relative says that on top of Nia's death "it's just too much for one family to have to go through".
Mr Teaora died in his Baberton St home in Tokoroa and his death is being treated as suspicious.
The Daily Post has been told he was Nia Glassie's second cousin.
The Glassie family is originally from Tokoroa.
Detective Senior Sergeant Todd Pearce, of the Taupo CIB, said Mr Tearoa lived at the house with other family members.
The cause of death had yet to be established and family were helping police piece together his movements since he was last seen alive Tuesday night.
Police and forensic scientists were carrying out a detailed scene examination.
"A number of witnesses have already been spoken to as police continue to attempt to reconstruct the events prior to the man's death," Mr Pearce said. A post-mortem examination was to be carried out this afternoon in Auckland.
Residents and family members stood outside the police cordon visibly upset yesterday while police and ESR scientists combed the property.
As police conducted their inquiries, relatives and a family friend revealed how Mr Tearoa and Nia Glassie were related and spoke of their losses.
A close family friend, George Tunui, also told The Daily Post that on Tuesday he had attended the funeral of Mr Tearoa's father, who had died of a heart condition.
The family was shocked at their tragic losses.
"The family have had a terrible run. They only just buried his father. It's just a huge shock for their family and everyone in our community."
A family member, who spoke on condition she was not named, said Mr Tearoa had also lost his mother recently and his brother, Jarrid Tearoa, 5, was run over and killed by a delivery truck in a service lane in Tokoroa on February 2 last year.
The woman said the entire family was devastated with this latest tragedy.
"We are still trying to deal with Nia's death and now this. It's just too much for one family to have to go through."
A cousin of the dead man told The Daily Post that he and Mr Tearoa had grown up together and described him as a "big man with a big heart".
* Crown closes in Nia case, p5