New child neglect death case rocks SA

Police believe that another child may have died from malnutrition in an impoverished Adelaide suburb.

Major Crime Detective Superintendent Des Bray addresses the media about the death of 10yo boy Makai, who died in February. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

A second child neglect death in as many weeks has rocked South Australia with police confirming they now believe that another child may have died from malnutrition in an impoverished Adelaide suburb.

Just two weeks after announcing the death through suspected criminal neglect of a six-year-old girl named Charlie in the outer northern suburb of Munno Para, SAPOL made the shock revelation on Monday that a seven-year-old boy known as Makai had also died from malnutrition in the neighbouring suburb of Craigmore in February this year.

The cases are not related but the circumstances of dependence on child protection authorities are so similar that Makai’s death will now also be investigated by Task Force Prime, which SAPOL set up last month to investigate Charlie’s death.

Details of Makai’s last days are scant, with police saying Makai was taken from his Craigmore home by an unknown complainant to Lyell McEwin Hospital some time in February before being transferred to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

He died on February 10, 2022, with a post-mortem subsequently revealing longstanding health issues that had not been addressed.

Makai has five other siblings aged between seven and 16 years, and their care is also now the subject of the SAPOL investigation.

SAPOL Major Crime Detective Superintendent Des Bray said that police had received information from child protection agencies relating to Makai that warranted a criminal investigation.

He said Makai was being looked after by his father in the lead-up to his death, and was not able to say why his mother has not at the address on account of the ongoing investigation.

Supt Bray confirmed child protection agencies had been in contact with Makai‘s family prior to his death.

“There is (alleged) neglect and abuse which we believe has occurred over a period of time,” he said.

Supt Bray said he “would not pass judgment” on the family’s involvement in the case while the investigation was ongoing.

But he said the emergence of this second case just two weeks after that of Charlie had been harrowing.

“Nobody wants to see children die. Every death needs to be fully investigated,” he said.

The deaths of Charlie and now Makai have become a flashpoint for the high levels of dysfunction in some Adelaide’s suburbs.

In Munno Para, many local families have spent much of the past fortnight blaming the Government for failing to do enough to help Charlie’s family, claiming the little girl had a stomach condition and that child protection services should have done more to assist.

Charlie’s mother also complained about her daughter being prevented from taking part in a Zoom meeting with her methamphetamine-addicted father, who is serving a five-and-a-half year jail term for stabbing Charlie’s mother repeatedly in front of their children.

The SA Government has offered to pay for Charlie’s funeral but Munno Para residents have argued the Government should give more money, saying the amount offered would only provide for a basic funeral.

Premier Peter Malinauskas announced on Monday that former SA police commissioner Mal Hyde would head an independent review into agencies’ interaction with the families of Charlie and Makai.

“One is shocking, two is desperately heartbreaking for every parent across the state,” he said.

“I will throw my effort and weight into what more my government can do to address how government agencies have operated in respect to these tragedies.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas announced yesterday that former SA police commissioner Mal Hyde will head up an independent review into agencies’ interaction with the families of both Charlie and Makai.

“One is shocking, two is desperately heartbreaking for every parent across the state,” he said.

“I will throw my effort and weight into what more my government can do to address how government agencies have operated in respect to these tragedies.”