Baby murder charge against former X Factor contestant Mitchell David Callaway dropped by court

A major court update has emerged in the case of a former X Factor Australia contestant who was charged with killing a nine-month-old girl.

A former X Factor Australia contestant charged with killing a nine-month-old girl in NSW’s central west has had his murder charge dropped.

Mitchell Callaway did not appear before Dubbo Local Court on Thursday when the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution dropped the single charge against him.

The 39-year-old was arrested last year after a five-year police investigation into the death of the child at Binnaway in central western NSW in July, 2018.

BINNAWAY, AUSTRALIA – NewsWire Photos – 08 JUN, 2023: A 37-year-old man has been arrested for the alleged murder of a nine-month-old baby in Binnaway. Picture: NCA NewsWire via NSW Police

Emergency services had been called to the home after reports the infant girl was unresponsive.

She was rushed by paramedics to Coonabarabran Hospital but died a short time later.

Police set up Strike Force King to investigate the young girl’s death and in June last year Mr Callaway was arrested and charged with murder.

Contestant Mitchell Callaway appeared on the 2011 season of X Factor Australia.

That charge was withdrawn and dismissed by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) on Thursday.

Mr Callaway spent six months in custody before being granted bail by the NSW Supreme Court in December 2023.

A court was told earlier this year Mr Callaway had been battling cancer, but had since entered into remission.

Mr Callaway competed in the third season of X Factor in 2011 before he was eliminated from the competition in week 6.