Toddler's abusers up for parole

Two people jailed for abusing murdered Rotorua toddler Nia Glassie are fighting to be freed from prison.

The possibility they could be out of jail within months of being sentenced for their part in a death that shocked the country has outraged justice lobbyists.

Oriwa Kemp, 19, who was found guilty of assaulting Nia and two other children and ill-treating Nia, appeared before the parole board in February. Her hearing was adjourned until later this month.

She was jailed for three years and four months in February after being in custody on remand since being arrested in August 2007. If released this month, she would have served one year and eight months in jail.

Michael Pearson, 21, also guilty of assaulting Nia and two other children, is to have a parole hearing next month. He was jailed for three years in February but has also been in custody since August 2007.

Nia died in Starship Hospital on August 3, 2007, 12 days after being taken to Rotorua Hospital in a coma. The 3-year-old died of massive bleeding between her skull and brain.

Sensible Sentencing Trust Rotorua spokesman Peter Bentley is angry the pair could be released from prison early, saying letting them out now would be wrong.

"There hasn't been enough time for them to change their attitudes to life," he said.

Sensible Sentencing wants criminals convicted of multiple crimes to receive cumulative sentences.

"Judges are a bit irresponsible.

They are not listening to the public and the Government's opinion on this issue," Bentley said.

Time served while on bail should not be taken into consideration when dealing with parole, he said.

New Zealand Parole Board communications manager Sonja de Friez said early parole was not a forgone conclusion for Kemp and Pearson. She said all prisoners were entitled to a hearing after serving a third of their sentence.

- ROTORUA DAILY POST