Toddler Moko Rangitoheriri was covered in injuries from head-to-toe when he died after suffering multiple blunt force traumas during his final days.
The three-year-old New Zealand boy had been subjected to a 'campaign of violence' leading up to his death in August 2015 at the hands of Tania Shailer, 26, and David William Haerewa, 43, a couple who were supposed to be caring for him.
Moko's mother, Nicola Dally-Paki met Shailer at a childcare centre when the killer-to-be was 16 and working as a caregiver, according to the New Zealand Herald.
They became friends and eventually Shailer took care of Moko and his older sister while their mother was away in Auckland, with another of her children who was sick and in hospital, and she left Moko in their care in Taupo, south of Auckland, in June last year.
Scroll down for video
Moko's mother, Nicola Dally-Paki, who had left her son in the care of Shailer and Haerewa while she looked after another of her children who was in hospital in another city
Moko's father, Jordon Tawa Rangitoheriri, who said after his son's killers were sentenced: 'at the end of the day, justice will prevail'
Moko (pictured) was subjected to a 'campaign of violence' by his killers before it eventually led to his death
Tania Shailer, 26, (left) and David William Haerewa, 43, (right) were supposed to be caring for Moko
According to Stuff.co.nz, Haerewa had a history of domestic violence.
Shailer had sought the help of a women's refuge to escape a 'violent life' in 2013, the NZ Herald reported.
During the two months they were supposed to be looking after Moko, Shailer and Haerewa tortured him, kicking, stamping on and hitting him, rubbing his faeces in his face.
RELATED ARTICLES
'Evil' couple who tortured boy, 3, to death and 'encouraged... 
Boy, 12, missing for a week is rescued from attic of...
Father of toddler, three, who died after drinking raw milk...
Share this article
ShareHe had injuries everywhere - from his eyes, gums and testes to his ribs and arms, according to reports.
Shailer and Haerewa's dislike for the boy had intensified while caring from him and they were routinely abusing him.
Two weeks before Moko died on August 10, Shailer stopped answering Ms Dally-Paki's calls.
She said later she should have known something was wrong.
Ms Dally-Paki reads her victim impact statement in court on Monday, where Moko's killers were sentenced. She said they reminded her of evil
Shailer and Haerewa's dislike for Moko (pictured) had intensified while caring from him and they were routinely abusing him
Ms Dally-Paki pictured earlier in 2016, as she recalled how her daughter told her about the abuse Moko suffered
About five days before his death, on August 5, they began to kill him, the NZ Herald reported.
Shailer repeatedly stamped on his stomach and he lost control of his bowels - it was later revealed his bowel had ruptured, causing septic shock.
His face was swelling, he had internal bleeding and a swollen brain, and was left like that for days.
There was evidence Moko had been smothered, it was reported.
He had bite marks, bruises, cuts and other injuries to his face, torso, arms and testes.
There were even injuries to his eyes, gums and ears and blood clots under his scalp.
He received a fatal head injury which caused facial bruising and began vomiting.
Shailer (pictured) repeatedly stamped on Moko's stomach, one of the many acts of abuse she committed against him
Moko Rangitoheriri, who died in 2015 aged three
The couple locked him in his room and ignored his repeated pleas for water. When given a shower he could hardly stand.
It wasn't until the August 10 and a raft of other instances of abuse that emergency services were called and told Moko had fallen from a wood pile.
He was taken to hospital and died about 10pm that day.
Afterwards, Moko's seven-year-old sister, who'd also been staying with Shailer and Haerewa, revealed she'd tried to stop the abuse, but was subjected to it as well.
On Monday, Shailer and Haerewa were sentenced to 17 years in jail each for the manslaughter of Moko.
When they were sentenced for Moko's manslaughter, Ms Dally-Paki said they reminded her of 'evil', and outside the courthouse, his father, Jordon Tawa Rangitoheriri, said: 'at the end of the day, justice will prevail'.
The same day, thousands of people took to the streets of New Zealand cities, protesting high child abuse rates in the country, a decision to not try the couple for murder, and to call for stricter sentencing.
Signs outside the Rotorua High Court where Moko's killers Tania Shailer and David Haerewa were sentenced on Monday
A speaker addresses a crowd gathered in the rain protesting the lack of justice in the NZ courts for victims of child abuse
Protestors march down the street in Rotorua to the courthouse on Monday, the same day Moko's killers were sentenced
Protestors displaying their signs outside the courthouse as the await the sentencing of Shailer and Haerewa
Protesters take over the streets on Monday calling for harsher sentences for child abusers
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pa3IpbCmmZmhe6S7ja6iaKaVrMBwrdGtoJyklWKAd4KSamhrZ4SWu6qtjIyfmqGcmr9ukMCvoJ1leJays7HWmmSamqWosqV5rZ6uZpKVlrmiusNmmaixXYK8rLuMi5inn5mpvKmx0aKpomWmnrCqu9Sso7Jlm565rbHDZp%2BipV6dwa64