As her partner beat his son to death, Leza Rawiri did nothing stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
As stated by Detective Sergeant Caroline Wharton:
Police acknowledge the sentencing of 25-year-old William James Sio in relation to the death of his five-year-old son Ferro-James Sio.
Sio was sentenced in the Rotorua District Court today to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years.
The deliberate death of a child is a tragedy for all involved.
In this case, Ferro-James was killed by the very person with a duty of care to protect him.
Our thoughts are with Ferro-James’ family and friends today as they continue to mourn his short life.
We can only hope our work to hold his murderer to account will bring them some level of comfort.
Before his sentencing a victim impact statement from Ferro-James s mother was read to the court by a support person. “I trusted the father to look after him. I trusted you William . you had one job, that was to be his father,” she said. “I will never forgive you for what you have done.” A second victim impact statement from one of Ferro-James’s aunts was also read by Crown prosecutor Amanda Gordon. She said his death has adversely affected his cousins and that she now suffered from depression and anxiety. “If I could, I would stay in my bed in the dark, all day every day,” she said.
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.
SunLive - Man jailed after admitting to son s murder - The Bay s News First sunlive.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sunlive.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.