Crown makes closing arguments in trial against parents of missing Chinchilla toddler Kaydence Mills

During the trial of a Chinchilla couple accused of murdering and torturing a toddler, police have revealed what motives they believe led to the incident and vulnerable girl’s ‘inevitable’ and ‘horrendous’ death.

Kaydence Mill's mother Sinitta Dawita and her boyfriend Tane Desatge pleaded not guilty to murdering and torturing the little girl in early 2017.

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are warned that the following article contains images of the deceased.

The Crown has closed its case in the murder trial of a missing toddler, alleging the Chinchilla girl was murdered because her mother was blinded by love and her stepfather’s hate for the child’s biological dad.

Kaydence Hazel Mill’s life was cut short on an unknown date between February and May 2017, a few months after her family relocated to the Western Downs west of Toowoomba, from Tully in North Queensland.

She was missing for years before anyone raised the alarm.

The girl’s mother Sinitta Dawita and her then partner Tane Desatge pleaded not guilty to murdering and torturing the two-year-old girl at their rental property in Chinchilla at 10 Inverai Rd, just metres from the Warrego Highway.

On July 22, they pleaded guilty to two counts each of interfering with her body, which was located at the Chinchilla Weir in March 2020 after Desatge showed undercover investigators where the pair buried her.

Forensic examination showed the child had a fracture to one rib which showed signs of healing, and a fracture to the base of her skull which occurred before or shortly after her death.

Kaydence should be turning 10.

The court was told during the last hours of her life Kaydence lay on a couch, struggling to breathe, with a face covered in bruises and a shaved head.

In the lead up to hear death, the Crown said Kaydence was allegedly treated worse than an animal, held captive, naked in a toilet where she was forced to eat her own waste and drink toilet water.

The Crown alleged Kaydence was beaten by Desatge with a stick, and by Dawita with her hand.

Push for life imprisonment

On day nine of the judge-only trial before the Toowoomba Supreme Court, seven years since Kaydence was last seen alive, the Crown outlined what they believed befell the girl and why Dawita and Desatge should be convicted of murder.

Kaydence Mills' mother Sinitta Dawita, and her then-boyfriend Tane Desatge, pleaded not guilty to torturing and murdering the girl.

In Queensland a person convicted of murder is liable to life behind bars with parole eligibility after 20 years were served.

Crown prosecutor Michael Lehane alleged Kaydence died beaten and malnourished and regardless of the serious head injury it was an “accumulation of mistreatment” that “greatly contributed” to her allegedly being left for dead on the couch.

However, he noted the medical evidence certainly showed she may have been killed from the strike to her skull, which also debunked Desatge’s claim to covert officers that the toddler fell down a small set of stairs.

“The point is that it was this inhumane treatment that substantially and significantly caused her death,” he said.

Investigators cordoned off the little girl’s Burbank St home in Chinchilla for a number of days in late 2019, months after Kaydence was reported missing. Pictures: Peta McEachern

“Both accused knew … that she was destined to die from this repetitive treatment – how could it not be the cause?”

“Over the … last weeks of her life, it seems the little two-year-old, alone without support, was left in a house and made to suffer horribly.”

Mr Lehane said both Dawita and Desatge chose not to seek medical help, noting medical evidence suggested there was a chance she could have survived her injuries if they had done so.

He said the pair’s steadfast and thought out cover-up, complete disregard and “heartless” treatment of the body, and “mind-boggling” amount of lies, indicated they committed a horrendous crime and were determined to “cover their tracks”.

Investigators digging up the backyard in Chinchilla for a number of days in late 2019, months after Kaydence was reported missing. Pictures: Peta McEachern

“The strength of their unity, in respect to this gross abuse of Kaydence, is exemplified by how tightly they stuck together after her death throughout the following years,” he said.

“If you weren’t involved in your partner’s appalling behaviour, wanted no part of it, do you really think you wouldn’t tell on him? You wouldn’t leave the relationship? Get others out of it?

“This pair did the complete opposite … throughout the years confessing their love for the other, they kept each other’s confidence, together burying the child, they stuck fast, refused to reveal any morsel of truth as Kaydence lay there in (the) Chinchilla Weir.

“That’s because together they treated Kaydence horrendously so together they had to keep their conduct secret.”

During the first days of March 2020, investigators began digging at the Chinchilla Weir.

Motive

Mr Lehane alleged the pair’s hatred of Kaydence’s biological father led to her alleged inhumane treatment, and untimely her death.

He said Desatge believed the man had him beaten in the past, and had assaulted Dawita who he loved, which fed his alleged “murderous intent” as well as Dawita’s.

Mr Lehane alleged Dawita wanted to get Kaydence “out of the picture” to please the man she loved and favour his children.

An old outhouse was excavated after a cadaver dog scented human remains at the little girl’s home on the corner of Inverai Rd and Burbank St in Chinchilla on the Western Downs in December 2019. Pictures: Peta McEachern

The domestic violence Dawita was subjected to by Desatge, which included being held at knifepoint and forced to feed the toddler faeces, showed his hatred for the man eclipsed his love for Dawita.

“This underlines Desatge’s determination to (allegedly) see Kaydence dead, that he would be prepared to resort to such measures to the person he loved to ensure she toes the line in respect to Kaydence’s demise,” he said.

Father of 11 Tane Desatge.

“We have this gradual escalation of (alleged) appalling treatment … building and building, Desatge getting more and more inhumane.

“And Dawita, blinded by love, chooses to ignore what objectively could well happen and still participates.

“She doesn’t escape criminal liability.”

Mother of five Sinitta Dawita.

What next?

On Monday, August 5, the court will hear from Dawita’s barrister and on Tuesday Desatge’s barrister will give his closing remarks.

The court was told the pair blamed one another for Kaydence’s death.

The pair chose not to give evidence nor call any witnesses.

They have spent more than 1000 days in custody since their arrest in March 2020.

Originally published as Crown makes closing arguments in trial against parents of missing Chinchilla toddler Kaydence Mills