Alleged killer mother Crystal Hanley pleads not guilty to criminal neglect manslaughter of her daughter Charlie

A mother who allegedly raised her children in a ‘squalid’ home, unfit ‘for human habitation’ has denied she was responsible for the death of her 6-year-old daughter.

A mother charged over the criminal neglect death of her 6-year-old daughter has denied she had any involvement in her child’s death.

Crystal Leanne Hanley, 48, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court via video link from custody on Thursday charged with criminal neglect and manslaughter after the death of her young daughter Charlie, as well as four counts of criminal neglect into the alleged treatment of other children.

Charlie Nowland died in 2022. Picture: Supplied

Her mother Crystal Hanley maintains she is not responsible for her daughter’s death. Picture: Russell Millard Photography,

Charlie, 6, died on July 15, 2022, after being found unresponsive at the family home.

Her official cause of death was recorded as malnutrition, however Ms Hanley maintains she was told by the Coroner in the days after her daughter’s death that a hereditary heart condition killed the six-year-old.

Ms Hanley has strongly denied the allegations since her arrest in April 2023, but the court previously heard Charlie had been raised in a home deemed “squalid” and “uninhabitable for humans”.

Ms Hanley was released on bail following her arrest, however returned to court several times after breaching her bail conditions by using drugs.

Despite being released on bail following a second breach at her last court appearance, The Advertiser understands Ms Hanley was again taken into custody on March 18 this year.

Ms Hanley previously told The Advertiser she would fight the charges ‘all the way’. Picture: Tom Huntley

She pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and child neglect charges. Picture: Supplied

Prosecutors on Thursday applied for the case to be committed to the Supreme Court on the basis that the allegations were of “unusual gravity”.

“On the basis of the severity of the accused’s conduct, and the prolonged nature of it, it can be established that the offences are of unusual gravity that would warrant the matter being moved to the Supreme Court,” prosecutors said.

Ms Hanley has been charged with criminal neglect and manslaughter, however, magistrate Brian Nitschke heard only six of the original 11 counts would be proceeded with.

Madaline Anderson, for Ms Hanley, entered not guilty pleas to the remaining counts on her client’s behalf.

“Case to answer is conceded,” Ms Anderson said.

Mr Nitschke committed the matter to the Supreme Court, and Ms Hanley will return to court in June.

Originally published as Alleged killer mother Crystal Hanley pleads not guilty to criminal neglect manslaughter of her daughter Charlie