Adam Joseph Hanbury pleads guilty to failing to registered daughter’s birth

Less than a week after murder charges against two parents, accused of causing the death of their daughter were dropped, the father has returned to court to close his part of the tumultuous saga.

North Mackay parents Jessica and Adam Hanbury. A police investigation is ongoing more than 12 months after their two-year-old daughter Diana died on Thursday, December 29, 2022.

New details can be revealed about a parent of a Mackay toddler who tragically died from a serious illness, sparking a homicide investigation.

Adam Joseph Hanbury and Jessica Blinda Hanbury were previously accused by police of causing the death of their youngest daughter Diana Hanbury in 2022 after the gravely ill two-year-old was taken to Mackay Base Hospital.

The couple were originally charged with murder (these charges were dropped last week) under the expanded definition that included allegations of reckless indifference to the child’s health, and the case was committed to the Mackay Supreme Court.

Jessica and Adam Hanbury were taken into custody on Wednesday 7 February 2024 over the charge. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Police had alleged the little girl, who was the youngest of six children, was already dead when she was taken to Mackay Base Hospital about 8pm on December 29.

And it was further alleged Diana had been unwell in the days before she was taken to the emergency department where hospital staff tried to resuscitate her.

Jessica Blinda Polsoni (centre) Hanbury leaves Mackay courthouse after the murder charge against her was dropped.

Police opened a homicide investigation, and the couple were charged in early 2024.

Both spent time in custody in remand before being released on Supreme Court bail in about mid 2024.

It is understood the child had a serious underlying health condition at the time of her death.

However, six months after the case was committed the prosecution revealed it would not be proceeding with the case against Mr and Mrs Hanbury, determining there were “no reasonable prospects of success”.

“After careful consideration of the admission evidence, including the relevant expert medical evidence, it was concluded that there were no reasonable prospects of success proving the charge of murder beyond a reasonable doubt in respect to both Mr and Mrs Hanbury,” an Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions spokeswoman said.

Diana’s death has been referred to the Coroner’s Court.

Adam and Jessica Hanbury were also charged with failing to have Diana’s birth registered within eight weeks after she was born.

Adam Hanbury appeared in Mackay Magistrates Court on Friday and pleaded guilty to the charge, as well as two minor traffic offences in 2023.

Hanbury pleaded guilty to minor traffic offences, as well as failing to registering the birth of his daughter.

Prosecutor Ruth Whisker told the court it had been ascertained in February 2024 that Diana’s birth had not been registered when police tried to obtain her birth certificate.

Ms Whisker said Adam and Jessica Hanbury were arrested on February 7, 2024 over the charge.

Magistrate Damien Dwyer said he took into account how long Adam Hanbury has spent on remand for the now-dropped murder charge and as a result “in respect of these three matters you’re convicted, a conviction is recorded, you’re not otherwise punished”.

Ms Whisker said the prosecution was seeking the cost of the complaint and summons, which Mr Dwyer rejected given the time Hanbury had already spent on remand.

The birth certificate charge against Ms Hanbury remains before the court and is listed for a date in May.

She has not yet entered a plea.