Shane Wanganeen to stand trial for the manslaughter, criminal neglect of son Makai, 7

Little Makai had pneumonia in both lungs and treatment resistant sepsis when he died - and his dad was “grossly negligent” in the days before his death, a court has heard.

Shane Wanganeen will stand trial at the District Court, accused of the criminal neglect and manslaughter of his 7-year-old son Makai. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

A father accused of his son’s “unlawful killing” has been ordered to stand trial after pleading not guilty to charges of manslaughter and criminal neglect.

Shane McKenzie Wanganeen, 51, of Craigmore appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday to answer the two charges laid against him.

The manslaughter charge alleges he “unlawfully killed” his seven-year-old son Makai between February 7, 2022 and February 11, 2022.

The criminal neglect charge is alleged to have occurred between the same dates.

Reading the criminal neglect charge aloud to Mr Wanganeen, Magistrate Simon Smart said the allegation included that Mr Wanganeen had a “duty of care” to Makai and that his son died “as the result of an act and you were or ought to have been aware that there was an appreciable risk that that harm would be caused to him”.

Mr Smart said the charge also included an allegation that Mr Wanganeen “failed to take steps that you would reasonably be expected to take in the circumstances to protect Makai” and that his failure to do so was “so serious that a criminal penalty is warranted”.

The court previously heard Makai had pneumonia in both lungs as well as treatment resistant sepsis when he died on February 10, 2022.

The court previously heard Makai had pneumonia as well as sepsis. Picture: Supplied

Shane Wanganeen at the gravesite of his son Makai Wanganeen at Smithfield cemetery. Picture: Supplied

It had also heard Makai was taken to a GP on February 7, 2022, and diagnosed with constipation and that prosecutors allege Mr Wanganeen was told to take Makai to hospital if his condition worsened.

The allegations against Mr Wanganeen include that he was “grossly negligent” about the health of his son in the days that followed.

Mr Wanganeen’s defence lawyer told the court his client had a case to answer.

A prosecutor asked the matter be committed to the Supreme Court for trial because of the complex nature of the case, including the “causation” of Makai’s death.

The prosecutor said a number of “lengthy and detailed medical statements” filed by multiple medical experts would need to be considered.

“Essentially, the prosecution’s allegation is that there was a failure to take the deceased to the hospital at the appropriate time,” she said.

Mr Smart instead committed the case to the District Court for trial, where Mr Wanganeen will next appear for arraignment in May.