Perth parents accused of starving their daughter face big delay ahead of retrial

A Floreat couple accused of neglecting their teenage daughter face a lengthy wait ahead of a trial next year.

The wealthy couple, both 48, who cannot be named for legal reasons, won a retrial over allegations raised after the young girl was removed from their care, with an appeals court told earlier this year that the mother was unwell during previous proceedings which hindered her ability to communicate with her defence counsel.

The parents now face another lengthy trial that will bring back witnesses including dance teachers, doctors and possibly the young woman herself. She attended WA’s Supreme Court on April 7 to hear the outcome of her parents’ appeal hearing.

On Friday, the husband appeared in person at Perth’s District Court for a trial date hearing, but revealed he was currently without legal representation.

The couples’ matter was adjourned for six weeks. However, lawyers were told a trial would be unlikely before the middle of next year.

The protracted saga began after their arrest in 2021 that was exclusively reported by WAtoday, with the couple each facing two counts of having care or control of a child engaged in conduct that was reckless and may have resulted in that child suffering.

Concerns were raised after dance instructors were told the girl was 16, but had the appearance of a nine-year-old.

Both parents were university-educated; the mother, a former journalist, gave up her career to be a stay-at-home mum, while the father worked in IT.

The parents denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that they loved their daughter very much, and that she was a fussy eater.

They brushed off concerns about her emaciated appearance, claiming she was “a bit thin” but not medically so.

The new trial is set to last five weeks.

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