WARNING: This story contains details that some readers may find distressing.
A Perth man and woman who were found guilty in 2024 of starving their teenage daughter have had their convictions set aside by a West Australian court, which also granted them bail.
The couple’s daughter was admitted to Perth Children’s Hospital in 2021, aged nearly 17 and weighing about 28 kilograms. Doctors had warned at the time that she would have died without urgent medical intervention.
The girl’s parents enrolled her in ballet classes with dancers two to three years younger than she was, after lying about her age. (Supplied: District Court)
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The parents, who had lived with their daughter in Perth’s affluent western suburbs, were each charged with two counts of engaging in conduct that caused their child to suffer, and were found guilty after a jury trial in November 2024.
The man and the woman had appealed the verdict, and yesterday, Western Australia’s Court of Appeal set aside their convictions and granted them bail, each with a $50,000 personal undertaking and $50,000 surety.
The court has yet to publish the full reasons for its decision.
The now-young woman (centre) attended court when her parents were sentenced in January last year. (ABC News: David Weber)
The man and woman are scheduled to appear in the District Court on April 24 for a hearing for a possible retrial.
In January 2025, the father was sentenced to more than six years in prison, and the mother was given five years, both with eligibility for parole.
In sentencing, Judge Linda Black told the parents they were “grossly negligent” and while they loved their daughter, they had not acted in her best interests.
The teenager weighed just 27 kilograms when she was eventually admitted to hospital aged almost 17. (Supplied: District Court)
The father had earlier pleaded guilty to forging his daughter’s birth certificate to make her appear younger than she really was.
The girl was taken into state care when her parents refused to allow her to be tube-fed at Perth Children’s Hospital, despite her dangerously low weight.
Hospital staff reported the girl was severely emotionally and developmentally delayed. (Supplied: District Court)