Nia tormentor to be freed next month

BY MATT CALMAN

One of murdered Rotorua toddler Nia Glassie's tormentors is being freed five months after being sent to prison.

Oriwa Kemp, 18, has served less than two years of a three-year and four-month jail term for cruelty to Nia, 3, who died in 2007. She gave Nia cold baths and hit her when she cried. She was present when Nia was swung on a clothes line and placed in a clothes dryer.

She was convicted of assault and wilful ill treatment of Nia in early February.

Kemp became eligible for parole soon after her sentencing because she had already spent more than 500 days in custody. It was her third appearance before the Parole Board.

Rotorua Mayor Kevin Winters said the decision to free Kemp was appalling.

"I'm saddened by this day. I think we've got to have a justice system that has some courage to send a message that domestic family violence won't be tolerated. But the message coming out today is ... a mixed message.

"It's not a deterrent at all."

The Parole Board granted Kemp freedom on condition she be placed under electronic monitoring, completes an anger-management course, completes any other treatment or counselling deemed necessary, does not drink alcohol or use drugs, and does not have contact with anyone under 16 unless an approved adult is present.

She will be allowed to leave her parole address to travel to and from work.

The conditions remain in place till May 21, 2011.

Kemp will be freed in the middle of next month.

Sensible Sentencing Trust spokesman Garth McVicar said the strict conditions were far from normal and indicated the Parole Board was concerned about freeing Kemp.

"It's a slap in the face for anybody who thinks we have an effective justice system."

In its decision, the Parole Board said Kemp had "considerable whanau support" and a job available.

"She no longer poses undue risk to the safety of the community."

Children's Commissioner John Angus said he hoped Kemp's strict release conditions would help her rehabilitation and "over time she will find ways to atone to the community for her actions".

Brothers Michael, 22, and Wiremu Curtis, 19, were sentenced to life imprisonment for Nia's murder, with a minimum non-parole period of 17 1/2 years. When Nia's mother, Lisa Kuka, was at work they terrorised the toddler by practising wrestling moves on her.

Kuka was sentenced to nine years in jail for manslaughter, failing to seek medical treatment for her daughter and failing to protect her from abuse. Michael Pearson, 21, was sentenced to three years in jail for assault and wilful ill treatment.

William Curtis, 50, the father of Michael and Wiremu, received four years in prison for assaults on Nia.

THE CASE

March to July, 2007: Nia Glassie is abused and tortured at separate addresses in Rotorua.

July 20, 2007: Nia receives fatal kicks to the head.

July 22, 2007: Nia's mother Lisa Kuka seeks hospital treatment for Nia, 36 hours after her daughter fell into a coma.

July 26, 2007: Four people, including Oriwa Kemp, are arrested and charged with assault. A fifth person is arrested the next day.

August 3, 2007: Nia dies in Auckland's Starship hospital.

February 4, 2009: Kemp sentenced to three years and four months' jail after four-week trial in 2008.

Mid-July, 2009: Kemp due to be released.

- © Fairfax NZ News