Angela Bannister’s mother to fight child homicide charges
A mother accused of killing her toddler daughter is set to fight the charge in court, more than a decade after the little girl died in suspicious circumstances.
Law & Order
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The mother of tragic tot Angela “Angie” Bannister is set to fight claims she is responsible for the little girl’s death.
Angie was 23 months old when she died in suspicious circumstances in 2008.
In a cold case breakthrough earlier this year, her mother Tania Walker, 35, and Ms Walker’s former boyfriend Daniel Simmons, 44, were charged with one count each of child homicide.
It is understood the pair was charged on the basis that they failed to act quickly enough to seek help after claiming Angie was attacked by a dog the day before she died.
She was taken to Echuca hospital on July 19, 2008 with more than 20 injuries, including internal haemorrhaging, rib injuries and a fractured pelvis.
She died of chest injuries a short time later.
A coronial inquest in 2011 found that Ms Walker or her then-boyfriend Mr Simmons were responsible for the injuries.
The pair were each charged in March with a count of child homicide and remanded in custody.
They have each subsequently been bailed.
They appeared at the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court today for a brief hearing where their lawyers successfully applied to have the case adjourned in part because of the volume of material still to work through.
Ms Walker’s lawyer said he would also be making an application for increased funding from Victoria Legal Aid so Ms Walker could be better represented.
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A request to adjourn the matter for more than two months was refused by magistrate Sarah Leighfield, who said there had already been significant delays in getting the matter to court.
Neither Ms Walker or Mr Simmons was required to speak during the brief hearing.
But they sat side-by-side and spoke to each other on several occasions.
Outside court, they refused to answer any questions.
After the pair was arrested, Angie’s grandmother Dawn Bannister told the Herald Sun she was overcome with relief.
“None of us thought this day would come and it has,” Ms Bannister said.
“Now our precious Angie can finally rest in peace. No one can hurt her.”