Nia Glassie’s mother to be released
The mother of Nia Glassie, who was jailed for the manslaughter of the toddler in Rotorua in August 2007, will be released on parole next month.
Lisa Michelle Kuka, 43, was jailed for nine years on two counts of manslaughter after 3-year-old Nia’s horrific death from brain injuries.
Kuka was one of four people given lengthy prison sentences after Nia’s death and was sentenced on February 4, 2009.
At a parole hearing held on January 31 at Arohata Prison, a decision was made to release Kuka into the care of her whanau next month at an undisclosed location and under strict parole conditions.
According to the Parole Board decision Kuka was released on parole on September 22, 2014, but was recalled to prison to serve the rest of her sentence on August 22 last year.
Her prison sentence was to end on October 16, 2017.
Kuka had been assessed as being a medium risk of offending.
“. . . we consider with full compliance and with all of the standard and special conditions that Ms Kuka would not pose an undue risk to the safety of the community in the time she has left on her sentence,” the decision stated.
Kuka’s parole conditions include completing a counselling programme, a curfew, no drugs or alcohol, no contact with any person under 16 years unless approved and notifying her probation officer before entering an “intimate relationship”.