Nia Glassie murderer appeals conviction

One of two brothers found guilty of murdering Rotorua toddler Nia Glassie has filed an appeal against his conviction.

Wiremu Curtis and his brother Michael were sentenced at the High Court in Rotorua on February 4 to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 17-1/2 years for the murder of the three-year-old girl in August 2007.

An appeal against conviction has been filed on behalf of Wiremu Curtis, lawyer Craig Horsley told Radio New Zealand. No date has been set for a hearing.

The court heard Nia suffered months of misery. She was kicked in the head, put in a clothes drier which was turned on, had wrestling moves performed on her and was flung off a clothesline before her short life ended in Starship Hospital in August 2007.

During the trial, Mr Horsley said his client was sorry for what he had done to Nia and had to live with it.

Last month, Mr Horsley said he was satisfied with his client's sentence.

"Given the verdicts, I thought the sentence was the only appropriate sentence. We said 17 years, the Crown said 18 and a half starting point - can't be unhappy with 17 and a half," he said.

- NZPA