Girl, 3, murdered after months of hideous abuse

Published on Tuesday 18 November 2008 21:22

TWO New Zealand men were convicted yesterday of murdering a three-year-old girl after months of abuse that included spinning her in a hot clothes dryer and beating her using wrestling moves copied from a computer game.

The case exposed a circle of family neglect that included the girl's mother, who was found guilty of manslaughter because she failed to protect her child.

The judge, Judith Potter, wept in court as she thanked the jury after the verdicts were read out.

Nia Glassie died of brain injuries in a hospital in August last year, two weeks after suffering what prosecutors said were fatal kicks to the head inflicted by Wiremu Curtis, 19, and his brother, Michael, 22. Nia's mother, Lisa Kuka, 35, was Wiremu Curtis's partner, and they shared a house with Michael and other adults.

The brothers face life sentences – most inmates serve ten years in New Zealand, though that can be extended. Kuka faces ten years in prison.