Jailed parents of ‘starving ballerina’ released ahead of retrial
Two Perth parents jailed after allegedly starving their teenage daughter have been released on bail after being granted a retrial.
The couple, who cannot be named for legal reasons, both successfully appealed their convictions for neglect after being sentenced to five and 6½ years’ jail last year.
During their trial in 2024, the court was told how their daughter was infantilised and malnourished to the point that serious concerns were raised about her wellbeing, with the teenager having the weight and appearance of a much younger girl.
However, the parents maintained their innocence and claimed their daughter ate a healthy vegan diet.
Their lawyers told a panel of judges during their appeal that their trial was unfair, 9News Perth reported, and highlighted the mother’s illness during the trial, which saw her transferred to a remote room for two days, during which she struggled to communicate with her defence counsel.
The parents were released on bail on a $50,000 surety each and will need to hand over their passports as part of their bail conditions.
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Making headlines today is Australia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart, who has slammed prosecutors’ pursuit of Ben Roberts-Smith and other SAS veterans, after the Victoria Cross recipient was arrested and charged with multiple war crimes.
Australian Federal Police are accusing Roberts-Smith – the former soldier and recipient of the Australian military’s highest honour, the Victoria Cross – of five counts of war crime – murder.
Roberts-Smith was arrested at Sydney Airport on Tuesday. War crime – murder carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
