Sydney parents accused of putting toddler on ‘strict diet’
AN eastern suburbs couple accused of neglecting and abusing their 20-month-old daughter — who was so malnourished she suffered a seizure at hospital — has denied in court they were responsible for their child’s plight.
NSW
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AN eastern suburbs couple accused of neglecting and abusing their 20-month-old daughter — who was so malnourished she suffered a seizure at hospital — has denied in court they were responsible for their child’s plight.
The couple, aged 31 and 33, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were charged by Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad last week and pleaded not guilty to charges of failing to provide for a child causing danger of serious injury and reckless grievous bodily harm.
During a brief appearance in Waverley Local Court today, the couple held hands as their lawyers entered pleas of not guilty.
They said nothing as they left court and will reappear on May 30.
Police said Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad were alerted to the alleged abuse after the toddler was admitted to Sydney Children’s Hospital after suffering a seizure on March 10.
“Investigators were told the child was malnourished, suffered rickets, and her height and weight were markedly below expected of a child her age,” police said in statement outside of court.
Police said they will allege the girl’s parents fed the child a strict diet, “which was severely deficient in nutrients for her to thrive”.
A police source said they were vegans.
Police allege the abuse took place at a Kogarah address from July 2016 to March 10 this year.
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Following an investigation, the couple were arrested at their Queens Park home last Friday and refused bail by police.
They were granted bail in court on Friday to appear today, where their bail was continued.
An elderly man who said he lived opposite the family said he saw the young couple move into the address about six weeks ago.
Roy, who was retired and asked for his last name to be withheld, said he would see the father with his young daughter most mornings.
He said the child never seemed to be “distressed or crying”.
“The little girl looked healthy,” Roy said.
Although Roy said he often saw the father, he said he rarely saw the mother leave the house.
“I often said hello (to the father) and we greeted quite cordially,” he said.
Roy said the couple drove a BMW 125i series sedan, which was parked outside of the address where the couple were staying.
A neighbour, who lived next door to the couple for between four to five years, said the couple moved out from an address in Kogarah two weeks ago.
The neighbour, who didn’t want to be identified, said he had never seen or heard a baby next door and rarely, if ever, saw the partner and mother of the baby.
He said he got the “shock of his life” when he found out there had been a baby living next door.
“We knew there were two boys in there,” the elderly neighbour said.
“One had started school and there was a younger one about three.
“The kids used to play in the backyard (and the father) would play with them.
“I never heard any mistreatment ...(or) physical abuse.”
The neighbour said the couple kept to themselves and only ever said “G’day” to the man.