Andrew William Campbell faces Ipswich Court for alleged manslaughter of baby Dexter Wilton
New details have emerged in the manslaughter case of a couple accused of leaving a baby to die while on a drug binge, with a star witness revealed to be a convicted killer.
Police & Courts
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Harrowing details of how a baby was allegedly left to die in his own cot while his mother and her partner went on a drug binge have been revealed at a committal hearing by a star witness revealed as a convicted killer.
Andrew William Campbell is on track for the Supreme Court nearly five years later, as new twists emerged in his case at a committal hearing today.
Key witness, convicted killer Sean Hopkins, told police his “mate” Mr Campbell confessed to leaving the baby to die while on a heroin binge, Ipswich Magistrates’ Court heard.
“Andrew told me that he got on the heroin for about four or five days straight,” Hopkins had said in a statement to police.
“They overdosed or had too much heroin, and nearly two days went with (Dexter) in the cot.
“They’d been on a bender and they realised what had happened.
“Andrew told me he fled the scene.”
Dexter Wilton was just eight months old when he was found dead in his Raceview home on June 21, 2019, allegedly from dehydration and malnutrition.
It is alleged his mother Natalie Jade Whitehead, 37, and her boyfriend at the time Mr Campbell, 44, “forgot about him” while they were on a three-day drug binge.
Both Ms Whitehead and Mr Campbell were charged with murder in the months following Dexter’s death.
But that charge was dropped and replaced with a charge of manslaughter for each of them.
Mr Campbell appeared in person while on bail at his Ipswich Magistrates’ Court committal on February 7, 2024.
Crown prosecutor Matt LeGrand handed up 115 witness statements, of which the defence asked to cross-examine three witnesses.
The court heard testimony from former Detective Sergeant Rodney Messar, who had taken a statement from key witness Hopkins on January 6, 2021.
Defence barrister Damian Walsh read out part of Hopkins’s statement detailing the alleged phone conversation between he and Mr Campbell which revealed information about how Dexter was allegedly forgotten during a drug binge.
Mr Messar agreed this was a “significant piece of evidence” but said he personally didn’t have access to the relevant documents now he was retired.
He said he didn’t have a good recollection of taking Mr Hopkins statement, including whether it had been taken over the phone.
Mr Walsh questioned Mr Messar about whether he was aware of the criminal history of Mr Hopkins, who he previously referred to as his client’s “mate”.
Mr Messar said he assumed they would have done criminal history checks at the time, but didn’t recall.
Mr Walsh asked: “Would it assist you if I told you he was on parole for manslaughter for a sentence imposed on him in the Mount Isa Supreme Court?”
Mr Messar said he still didn’t recall.
The next witness called for cross examination was Mr Hopkins himself.
But that portion of the proceedings was closed to the public, as Mr LeGrand submitted Mr Hopkins was fearful of reprisal for his testimony.
Mr Walsh clarified that fear of reprisal was not related to his client in any way.
The court also heard testimony from a Roslyn Taylor, who said Ms Whitehead had been at her home on the day Dexter died.
Ms Taylor said Ms Whitehead had told her on that day that Mr Campbell had been bedridden sick for a number of days.
She said Ms Whitehead didn’t specify what kind of sickness it had been.
When asked how sick, she simply said “sick, sick” – placing more emphasis on the word the second time.
She said she remembered an ambulance coming to Ms Whitehead’s address on the day Dexter died, and that she had assumed it was to take Mr Campbell to hospital for the sickness.
Ms Taylor said she didn’t remember her other conversations with Ms Whitehead that day, saying it had simply been general chit chat for around an hour or so in the morning.
Mr Walsh conceded there was a prima facie case against his client, who chose not to enter a plea at this stage.
Mr Campbell was formally charged with manslaughter, three counts of failing to supply the necessaries of life, and one count of misconduct with a corpse by interfering (washing, cleaning and changing clothing of a human body).
He was committed to stand trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court at a date to be notified, and his bail was enlarged.
Ms Whitehead’s matters were previously committed to the Supreme Court, where they are next scheduled for mention on February 22.
She is charged with manslaughter, failing to supply the necessaries of life, negligent act causing harm, and misconduct with a corpse by interfering.
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