NEW ZEALAND: Concern that child abuse cases part of wider problem

Submitted by crinadmin on

[30 July 2007] - New Zealand's Prime Minister has condemned those allegedly involved in the country's latest child abuse case.

A three-year-old girl Nia Glassie remains in an induced coma in Auckland's Children's Hospital after being beaten and ill-treated over the past four months at her Rotorua home.

Five people have been charged over the sustained assault.

It is alleged the abuse included the toddler being hung on a clothes line and being spun in a tumble dryer.

Prime Minister Helen Clark says she is staggered people could turn a blind eye to the child's suffering.

"I cannot believe that a child subjected to that level of horror, sadism, torture, that nobody knew," she said.

"People have got to start turning in those who, frankly, are maiming and killing our children."

Four of the five charged over the assaults are due to appear today in court in Rotorua.

Further information

pdf: http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/30/1991815.htm?section=justin

Country: 
New Zealand
Issues: 
Domestic violence
Violence: 
Domestic violence
Attachment Link: 
http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/30/1991815.htm?section=justin

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