Mum’s tears, sobs during guilty plea to manslaughter of stepdaughter, 4, found ‘malnourished, severely mistreated’
The stepmother of a little girl who was allegedly “malnourished and severely mistreated” before her death has made a tearful admission in court.
A woman has admitted to unlawfully killing her four-year-old stepdaughter who was allegedly found “malnourished” and “severely mistreated” in a Brisbane home.
Shannon Leigh White was initially charged with the murder of Willow Dunn after emergency services found the child’s body in a home in Cannon Hill back in May 2020.
Police allege the child was “severely malnourished” and had experienced “severe mistreatment” before her death.
White was due to stand trial in the Supreme Court but during her arraignment on Wednesday she entered a plea of guilty to a single charge of manslaughter.
She also pleaded guilty to another charge of cruelty to children under 16 – concerning a different child to Willow.
White entered court clutching tissues and dabbing her eyes, sobbing as she answered “guilty” to the charges on the new indictment.
The Crown discontinued the charge of murder on her old indictment.
Barrister Paula Morreau, acting for White, asked for a sentencing date in early September.
She told the court the statement of facts concerning the manslaughter charge was agreed but she would need further instructions on the cruelty to children charge.
White, who was remanded in custody, will return to court for sentencing on September 2.
Willow’s father, Mark James Dunn, is charged with her murder. His matter remains before the court.