Police investigate case of seven-year-old Craigmore boy who may have died from criminal neglect

Police are investigating the case of a seven-year-old Craigmore boy, who may have died from neglect. Watch the press conference replay here.

Police are investigating the death of a seven-year-old Craigmore boy who may have died from criminal neglect.

The investigation is also examining the care of five other children, aged between seven and 16 years.

The boy, known as Makai, died on February 10, 2022, after being taken to Lyell McEwin Hospital and later the Women’s and Children’s Hospital from an unknown complaint.

His death is being investigated as part of Task Force Prime, formed last month to investigate the death of Munno Para girl Charlie, who died of malnutrition.

Premier Peter Malinauskas has appointed former police commissioner Mal Hyde to conduct a review of government agencies and their interaction with the families of both children.

Mr Hyde, who was SA police commissioner between 1997 and 2012 will take over the existing review established by the government last month, following the establishment of Task Force Prime.

Mr Hyde’s review will begin immediately and he will work co-operatively with Task Force Prime detectives.

POST MORTEM

Major Crime Detective Superintendent Des Bray said a post-mortem following Makai’s death identified several serious health issues.

However, Supt Bray said the case had no relation to the death of Munno Para girl Charlie and did not share “the same characteristics” as her death.

“There is (alleged) neglect and abuse which we believe has occurred over a period of time”, he said.

He said information from various child protection authorities obtained by a coronial direction 10 days after Makai’s death, provided to SA Police in early July, provided sufficient grounds to commence a criminal investigation.

Makai’s father had been looking after six children since November 2020, with his mother not living with the family at the time of death.

Supt Bray would not provide further detail as to why his mother was not living at the home.

WATCH THE POLICE PRESS CONFERENCE REPLAY

“I won’t go into that, because that’s a matter that was handled by DCP and I’m not going to try and speak for another agency,” Supt Bray said.

Supt Bray said an interim cause of death had been determined, but current investigations prevented police from going into further detail.

He said the Task Force had spoken to a person in relation to the death, but urged any neighbours, friends or acquaintances with any information to contact police.

Supt Bray confirmed child protection agencies had been in contact with Makai’s family before his death, but said he “would not pass judgment” on their involvement.

“Nobody wants to see children die. Every death needs to be fully investigated,” Supt Bray said.

“It‘s the start of the investigation ... and we have to be fair in the way we go about it. Major Crime is independent of those other (child protection) agencies.

“One (death) is too many, and if we have any deaths of children we will look into the cause and circumstance, anything that‘s preventable (and) the interactions from all agencies involved, whether it be police, child protection or education.”

Superintendent Des Bray is seen speaking to media. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

CHARLIE’S DEATH

Charlie died in the Lyell McEwin Hospital on July 15.

A police task force is investigating her death and searched and photographed her Munno Para home on July 20.

Neighbours and friends said Charlie’s mother, Crystal Nowland, 46, had sought help from the state but had been let down.

Charlie saw her father, John, stab her mother in a drug-fuelled rage in their northern suburbs home.