A father who kicked and beat his 5-year-old son to death has lost an appeal to get his prison sentence reduced.
William James Sio appealed his 17-year mini
Father jailed for severe beating and murder of 5-year-old son
William James Sio in the High Court at Rotorua for sentencing. (Photo / Andrew Warner)
Father jailed for severe beating and murder of 5-year-old son
Warning: Distressing content
Discipline turned to death for little Ferro-James Tiopira Sio - a 5-year-old who was severely beaten and murdered by his father while they stayed in emergency housing in Rotorua.
Now his father, William James Sio, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years.
The 25-year-old appeared in the High Court at Rotorua today for sentencing before Justice Ian Gault after previously admitting five charges, including murdering his son on February 8 last year at a Union St property in Rotorua.