A west Auckland father jailed for his part in a serious child cruelty case has lost his bid to have his two-year minimum jail term reduced.
The father, whose name is suppressed to protect the identity of his daughter, was jailed for three years earlier this year for his part in the sustained abuse of the girl, then nine.
The girl was found hiding in a cupboard in her home. She was starving, dehydrated, bruised and suffering from broken bones and anaemia from internal bleeding and her scalp had been half torn off.
The girl's mother was regarded as the lead offender but the father was jailed because he stood by and allowed his wife to continue abusing the girl and took no steps to arrange medical care.
The man didn't appeal his three-year jail term but he thought his two-year minimum term was excessive.
But three Court of Appeal judges rejected the man's bid, saying the judge was right to say two years was appropriate given the seriousness of the crime.
The mother is serving a seven and a half year jail term, with a minimum term of five years.
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