Mr Torney, 32 – the ex-partner of Peta-Ann Francis – has been charged with the toddler's murder, but his defence claims Ms Francis killed Nikki and he helped her hide the body.

Nikki was found dead in the roof cavity of her home on August 25 last year, the court previously hearing she died from repeated blows to her torso.

Ms Francis took to the stand on Wednesday for a second day of cross-examination from Mr Torney's barrister Julie Condon.

Ms Francis told the Supreme Court trial her statements to police changed over time because she was "in shock" after Nikki's death.

"Does shock make you lie, does it?" Ms Condon asked her.

"As I said some things were clear, some things weren't and I was still trying to figure it out," Ms Francis responded.

Ms Condon put to Ms Francis that contrary to her evidence, she had actually seen Nikki a number of times the morning of her death and had disciplined her.

"Nikki was yelling out of the room, 'Can I come out, Mum?', wasn't she?" Ms Condon asked.

"No," Ms Francis said.

"You said, 'No, you f---ing can't. Stay in there'?" Ms Condon told Ms Francis.

"No," Ms Francis said again.

Ms Francis continued to deny she played a part in her daughter's death when Ms Condon put Mr Torney's version of Nikki's death to her.

"You threw her on the edge of the bed didn't you," Ms Condon said.

"And you smacked her repeatedly?

"You lost control with your little daughter didn't you?"

To each allegation, Ms Francis replied "no".

Ms Condon put to Ms Francis that after she killed Nikki she asked Mr Torney to help her, telling him that her Mildura police officer brother would "take care of everything".

"You tried to assure him that because your brother was a police officer, that he wouldn't get into any trouble, correct?" Ms Condon said.

"No," Ms Francis said.

The trial, before Judge Elizabeth Hollingworth, continues.

Sunraysia Daily