Man walks free over girl’s manslaughter
A BRISBANE court has freed a man who ignored the dire health of a three-year-old girl, who later died from her injuries.
A MAN has walked free from court after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of a young girl who died living in squalid conditions north of Brisbane three years ago.
Christopher Arthur Neville Kent, 47, was given a two-year suspended jail sentence in Brisbane’s Supreme Court on Tuesday after already serving 19 months behind bars.
Kent was a boarder at the Petrie unit where three-year-old Kyhesha-Lee Joughin died on March 30, 2013, after failing to receive medical attention for a bowel injury that had become infected. Kyhesha-Lee also suffered bruising to her face, cuts to her ear and a crushed finger, the court heard.
Crown prosecutor Todd Fuller said the girl had suffered a traumatic death, which could have been avoided as her injuries were treatable.
Mr Fuller alleged the girl’s father was the primary offender but Kent had turned a blind eye to her suffering.
“The defendant failed to assist her in her hour of need,” he said.
Mr Fuller said there were blood stains throughout the unit and a strong urine smell in Kyhesha-Lee’s bedroom where a rope was put on the door to keep her inside.
Mr Fuller said an autopsy showed she likely died from sepsis caused by a perforated bowel.
Justice Glenn Martin said Kent had a duty of care towards the girl but noted it was not the same type of responsibility of a parent or spouse.
He said although Kent’s duty of care was limited, he had failed to help her.
“It would have been apparent to any caregiver she was seriously unwell,” he said.
“She died a lonely, painful death.”