HORROR END: Tyla-Maree Flynn, who died after having her head forced into a container of hot water, an inquest has been told.

Tokoroa toddler Tyla-Maree Flynn's life ended at just 22 months after she was badly burnt by hot water three years ago. Yesterday an inquest finally revealed the abuse she suffered leading up to her death.

A toddler scalded to death by having her head forced into hot water would still be alive if her caregiver had sought medical attention immediately, an inquest into her death has revealed.

Tokoroa toddler Tyla-Maree Flynn was 22 months old when she was severely burnt while in the care of her mother's partner, Rikki Hotham (also known as Riki Hopa), on June 28, 2007.

Medical attention was not sought until 16 hours after she was burnt and she died an hour after reaching Tokoroa Hospital.

Hotham told police Tyla-Maree was burnt when her older brother turned on a hot shower but an autopsy showed otherwise and Hotham was eventually charged with her murder.

However, Hotham died in a car crash in October 2008, four months before he was to go on trial.

Yesterday Tyla-Maree's mother Lisa Barron, who now lives in Napier, and grandmother Elizabeth Barron returned to Tokoroa to finally get closure.

Seated in the public gallery of the Tokoroa District Court, Ms Barron listened as details of her daughter's horrific death were made public for the first time.

She heard – from Middlemore Hospital burns unit clinical leader Dr Richard Wong-She – how her daughter's head was most likely forced into a full container of hot water, face down, before the hot water trickled down her body as her head was brought up.

A burns specialist in Sydney also came to the same conclusion.

Ms Barron also heard how Tyla-Maree would still be alive today if medical help had been sought immediately.

"Her death is a direct result of a delay in treatment," Dr Wong-She said.

The burns to Tyla-Maree's body were not consistent with being scalded by a hot shower – the story Hotham repeatedly told police when questioned over the toddler's death.

Ms Barron broke down as she told of the morning she found Tyla-Maree curled in a ball, dripping wet.

"I could see that it was serious straight away," she said wiping tears away as she gave evidence at the inquest.

She took her daughter straight to hospital but it was too late.

Officer in charge of the case Detective Kevan Verry told coroner Gordon Matenga that three cigarette burns were also found on the toddler's body – one near her vagina.

There were also small abrasions on the back of her head – consistent with her head being forced into the water.

Mr Verry said they had no reason to believe anyone other than Hotham inflicted all of Tyla-Maree's injuries given Hotham admitted he was the only adult with her at the time.

Mr Matenga has reserved his decision and will make it public once Hotham's family has read it.

Speaking after the inquest, Ms Barron told the Waikato Times she just wanted closure.

Ms Barron – who remained in a relationship with Hotham until his death and fell pregnant to him – said that looking back she should never have stayed with him.

"When I was with him I had all his emotions to deal with – what he was going through.

"I disregarded my own feelings.

"It wasn't until he passed away that (what he'd allegedly done) became clear in my mind."

While she doesn't hate Hotham she does blame him for Tyla-Maree's death.

"I'm angry at the fact he didn't take her to hospital. If he had we wouldn't be in this situation."