Mother accused of leaving son in hot car granted supervised visits

A mother accused of leaving her son in a hot car for hours outside the Brook Hotel in Point Cook has been granted supervised visits with him, as he fights for his life in hospital.

Kaija Millar is accused of locking her 14-month-old son, Easton, in the car while she played the pokies in Point Cook.. Picture: Ian Currie

A mother accused of leaving her 14-month-old son in a hot car while she played the pokies had her bail varied to allow her to visit him in hospital.

Kaija Millar, 32, was forbidden from going within 200m of the Royal Children’s Hospital where little Easton remains with critical injuries.

She was also not allowed to be within 5m of him.

Mother Kaija Millar has been charged with negligently causing serious injury and reckless conduct endangering life after her 14-month-old son was left in a car at Point Cook on January 15. Picture: Ian Currie

But those conditions were amended as the mother faced Melbourne Magistrates Court for the first time since being charged last week with negligently causing serious injury and reckless conduct endangering life.

Ms Millar is now allowed to visit her son, but only when supervised by her mother or a Department of Health and Human Services representative.

Kaija Millar can only visit her son when supervised by her mother or a Department of Health and Human Services representative.

Steve Millar, the father of Easton is heartbroken and spending as much time as possible by the bedside of his son. Picture: Supplied

Police allege she had left her son in her Holden Barina while she went inside and gambled at The Brook hotel in Point Cook last Wednesday.

The temperature had reached 33C outside when Easton was pulled unresponsive from the car at 3.15pm.

Charge sheets released by the court allege Ms Millar was reckless in leaving her son “in a vehicle for an extended period in 38 degree heat that placed (him) in danger of death”.

Mother Kaija Millar covers her face as she leaves Melbourne Magistrates Court where she appeared charged with negligently causing serious injury to her toddler son by leaving him in a hot car while she was inside a pub playing pokies. More @theheraldsun soon pic.twitter.com/76z8yc1lmH

— Rebekah Cavanagh (@rebekahcavanagh) January 23, 2020

His father Steve Millar was not in court as he keeps a bedside vigil for his son.

Speaking to the Herald Sun at the weekend, he said he was hopeful his little boy would recover.

“It’s still touch and go at the moment — it’s 50-50 whether he’ll pull through,” he said.

“He has shown a few signs to me, when I’m talking to him you can see his mouth trying to move.”

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Ms Millar, supported in court by her mother, sat quietly throughout the hearing, only saying “Yes, your honour” when Magistrate Sue Cameron asked if she understood the conditions.

Her barrister Cameron Allen told the court Easton’s condition remains “uncertain”.

Ms Millar agreed to surrender her passport, before her case was adjourned to April 16.