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Perth Mother Jailed in Starvation Case Denied Bail Ahead of Appeal

The judge found her illness during the trial did not undermine the verdict, making success on appeal unlikely.

Overview

  • The Supreme Court of Western Australia refused the mother's bail application, rejecting her claim that she was denied a fair trial after falling ill mid‑proceedings.
  • Justice Robert Mazza ruled there was no evidence she could not follow the hearing while viewing from a remote room, and he found no exceptional reason to release her.
  • Both parents were convicted over gross neglect, with the father jailed for six-and-a-half years and the mother for five years after their daughter became severely malnourished.
  • Trial evidence showed the teen weighed about 28 kilograms, was infantilised, and that the father forged a birth certificate to make her appear younger.
  • The parents’ appeals are lodged, and the case is expected to be heard next March.