Stacie Renee Dutaillis to plead not guilty to manslaughter of Jerome Banu

An accused child killer has indicated she will enter a not guilty plea over allegations she was responsible for the fatal overdose of a Mackay teenager. DETAILS

Stacie Renee Dutaillis (left) and Jerome Banu (right).

An accused child killer plans to defend the charge against her over allegations she was responsible for the fatal overdose of a Mackay teenager after he was fed strong pain medication.

The matter has been adjourned until October as the crown organises obtaining evidence described as “crucial” to the case.

Jerome Banu was 15 when he died of a Tramadol overdose as five other children were taken to hospital.

Police further allege Stacie Renee Dutaillis provided the opioid to the six children at a Mackay home on the night of September 29, 2021.

Stacie Renee Dutaillis is charged with Jerome’s manslaughter.

She is charged with Jerome’s manslaughter.

Ms Dutaillis was arrested and charged in Brisbane in April 2022, about seven months after Jerome’s death.

She has remained in custody on remand since her arrest.

Jerome Banu was 15 when he died of an alleged Tramadol overdose at a North Mackay home in September 2021. Picture: Facebook

Mackay Supreme Court heard during a brief mention this week that Ms Dutaillis would enter a not guilty plea on arraignment.

“The difficulty from the Crown‘s perspective is two-fold. One is availability, given my involvement in the matter. Secondly, the evidence to be pre-recorded is really the main aspect of the Crown case, so no doubt how that goes will require an ongoing assessment as to prospects,” Crown prosecutor Tiffany Lawrence said.

The case has been listed for mention next month which Ms Lawrence said should give sufficient time regarding the “crucial evidence in the crown case” before the trial was to commence.