Robert Terry Smith freed after manslaughter of stepdaughter Kiesha Weippeart

A stepdad who hid a six-year-old girl’s body in a suitcase and set fire to her corpse after she was kicked to death by her mum has been freed from jail.

A stepdad who hid a six-year-old girl’s body in a suitcase and set fire to her corpse after she was kicked to death by her mum has been freed from jail.

Robert Terry Smith left Junee Correctional Centre, north of Wagga Wagga, early on Friday and will serve the remainder of his 16-year sentence in the community.

The 43-year-old pleaded guilty to the 2010 manslaughter of his stepdaughter Kiesha Weippeart and was sentenced to at least 12 years in prison the following year.

Kiesha Abrahams was killed by her mother in 2010.

Smith’s partner Kristi Abrahams was convicted of murdering the six-year-old, her daughter, who she knocked unconscious after she refused to put on pyjamas.

Kiesha was then put in bed, where she died.

The child’s body was stuffed into a suitcase and hidden in the house for several days before it was taken to bushland in western Sydney.

Kiesha’s body was doused in petrol and set alight before it was buried in a shallow grave dug with a hammer.

Kristi Abrahams and Robert Smith were jailed for their part in the six-year-old’s death.

Her remains were not found until eight months later, in bushland north west of the family home.

Kiesha’s mother was jailed for a minimum of 16 years for the heinous murder.

It comes months after community members slammed Smith as a “putrid grub” who didn’t deserve release.

Alison Anderson, a former friend of Abrahams, told reporters in March that the decision to grant parole was “heart wrenching”.

Kiesha Abraham was killed in 2010.

Kristi Abrahams was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

She slammed Smith as a “putrid grub” and “an animal” who should remain behind bars.

“It’s just been one big kick in the gut today,” Ms Anderson said tearfully.

“I feel like we’ve failed … but we’re going to keep on fighting.”

Sobs and anger intermingled as she stood outside Parramatta Court with two other community members wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the message: “We say no parole for child killers never to be released.”

Ms Anderson said Smith would not be welcomed back to his former community after “what he’s done to our little angel”.

At a meeting on February 17, the NSW State Parole Authority formed the “intention to grant parole” for Smith.

Originally published as Robert Terry Smith freed after manslaughter of stepdaughter Kiesha Weippeart