Jenni Wilmott appears in court charged with 2018 manslaughter of 14-year-old Jasmine Wilmott
A mother charged with manslaughter is the last of three accused charged over high-profile unrelated child deaths to face court – but key details have been suppressed.
Police & Courts
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Key details of the alleged case against a woman charged with the 2018 manslaughter of her 14-year-old daughter have been suppressed in a hearing during which she was granted release on bail.
Jenni Wilmott, 54, of Flagstaff Hill was the last of three people charged with manslaughter over separate, high-profile and unrelated child death cases on Wednesday to appear in court.
Ms Wilmott, who is also facing other charges, including criminal neglect and assault, sat handcuffed next to a Correctional Services officer as she appeared via audio visual link from the City Watch House to seek release on bail.
Brevet Sergeant Brad Winn said police were opposed to her release on any form of bail.
He said police would allege Ms Wilmott failed to provide a duty of care to her daughter, Jasmine Wilmott, who took her own life in 2018.
“The applicant owed Jasmine a duty of care throughout the charged period of time,” he said.
But other key details surrounding the case in the lead up to Jasmine’s death have been suppressed on the request of Ms Wilmott’s lawyer, along with the names of people she is banned from contacting.
Ms Wilmott was charged with criminal neglect and two counts of assault in 2020, but those charges were withdrawn in 2021.
At the time, documents filed with the court had alleged Ms Wilmott “failed to take steps that she could reasonably have been expected to take in the circumstances to protect the victim”.
Craig Caldicott, for Ms Wilmott, told the court his client had previously complied with all bail conditions and would fight the charges and plead not guilty.
Outside court he said the reason for that was because “she didn’t commit the offence”.
“For manslaughter you need certain specific intention and that clearly isn’t the case here,” he said.
He said Ms Wilmott was “very shocked” to have again be charged in connection to Jasmine’s death.
“The police laid charges against her back in 2020 and they withdrew that in 2021 and now we are back here three years later and there had been nothing changed,” he said.
“Her character is good … I understand she is a very good mother.”
Magistrate Joanna Martin granted Ms Wilmott release on bail and imposed conditions including a $5000 guarantor and report to a Community Correctional Centre twice per week.
“I am minded to grant bail,” she said.
Ms Wilmott declined to comment after her release. She will return to court in August.
Man charged over son’s death can barely keep eyes open in court
In a separate hearing, a man charged over the manslaughter of his son, seven-year-old Makai, has appeared in court for the first time – but could barely keep his eyes open.
Shane McKenzie Wanganeen, 50, of Craigmore appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court via video link from the City Watch House on Thursday.
He is one of three people who were arrested on Wednesday and charged with manslaughter over separate, unrelated high-profile alleged child neglect cases.
Mr Wanganeen acknowledged the court to say he could hear the proceedings but his eyes remained closed for most of the rest of the short hearing.
His lawyer asked the court to adjourn a potential bail application until next week, but said she did not have further instructions about whether to seek his release on home detention bail.
A police prosecutor told the court he was “opposed to all forms of bail” but were not opposed to the court ordering a home detention report.
Magistrate Joanna Martin ordered a home detention report and a bail inquiry report to be returned next Thursday.
“The Department of Correctional Services are going to contact you to talk to you about potentially, home detention bail, “ she said.
Mr Wanganeen’s arrest came after more than six months of investigation by Task Force Prime, which was set up to investigate the deaths of his son Makai Wanganeen and Charlie Nowland, 6.
Makai was living with his dad at the time of his death on February 10, last year.
He had been taken to the Lyell McEwin Hospital before being transferred to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital suffering severe stomach pains.
Last year, Major Crime officer-in-charge Des Bray said that while suspicions about Makai’s death were not initially aroused, a review by investigators obtained an opinion from a paediatric expert led to further investigation.
“They formed the view that sufficient ground existed to commence a criminal investigation,” he said.
Mr Wanganeen’ court appearance follows that of another, but unrelated, manslaughter accused, Crystal Leanne Hanley, who appeared in court yesterday charged over the death of Charlie, 6, in July last year.
She was released on supervised bail to her Munno Para Housing SA home to what the court heard was “squalid” conditions, and from which she faced eviction.
Mr Wanganeen returns to court next week.
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