‘She was ugly and didn’t listen’ – Nia’s mum
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‘She was ugly and didn’t listen’ – Nia’s mum
The Saturday, 01 November 2008
Lisa Kuka, Nia Glassie's mother, was overheard at Starship children's hospital in Auckland telling a phone caller from Australia that she had seen Nia being picked up and thrown against a wall, a court has been told.
Crown witness Robyn Armstrong, an intensive care unit ward clerk, gave evidence during the murder trial in the High Court at Rotorua yesterday. She said that she took a call from Australia for Kuka at the hospital, two days after Nia was admitted in a coma.
"Lisa said [to the caller] `hang on a minute, it wasn't me'.
Under examination by prosecutor Amanda Gordon, Mrs Armstrong said she heard "someone yelling on the other end of the phone".. She then said: `I saw it happen … I saw it . I was there… He put her head between his legs and hit her head on the floor three times and then threw her . ..
Panama Le'au'anae, Kuka's lawyer, asked Mrs Armstrong if she was not mistaken."
Neither the caller, nor the person who allegedly harmed Nia, were identified by name in court. "Lisa spoke clearly, calmly and quite loud. Mrs Armstrong said she was not.. I was profoundly affected by what I heard . there's no way I was mistaken..
Earlier witness Nicole Kuka, Lisa Kuka's adult niece, said she discussed Nia's injuries with accused Oriwa Kemp at Starship on July 23, the next day Nia was admitted."
Mrs Armstrong said she later made notes on what she had heard and gave them to police.
The trial continues next week with evidence from medical specialists and forensic experts.
The trial continues next week with evidence from medical specialists and forensic experts.