Jessica Polsoni, Adam Hanbury charged with murder over death of Mackay toddler Diana Hanbury
Two parents charged with their toddler’s murder were handcuffed and barefoot when they faced a Qld court for the first time after a 14-month investigation into what police called ‘reckless indifference’ to the child’s health.
Police & Courts
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Parents charged with the murder of their two-year-old daughter faced a Queensland court a day after a 14-month investigation led to their arrest.
Diana Hanbury, the youngest of six children, was taken to Mackay Base Hospital on December 29, 2022.
She was sadly pronounced dead on arrival at 8pm.
Detective Superintendent Darrin Shadlow on Wednesday said the little girl had been unwell in the days before she was taken to the emergency department.
Plain clothes detectives arrested her parents Jessica Blinda Polsoni and Adam Joseph Hanbury on Wednesday morning, charging each with murder (domestic violence) as well as responsibility to have a birth registered.
Mr Hanbury was barefoot and the couple were both handcuffesd when they faced Mackay Magistrates Court as co-accused for the first time on Thursday.
Mrs Polsoni, known by her married name Hanbury, is being represented by Mackay solicitor Adam Harvey, director of Harvey Legal.
Associate solicitor Jessie-Lee Jessop of Brisbane law firm Gilshenan and Luton appeared by phone on behalf of Mr Hanbury.
Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan ordered a brief of evidence be provided to the court by April 5.
The Hanburys will face a committal mention to higher courts on May 13, with Ms Hartigan allowing them to appear by videolink if unable to appear in person.
“I’m sure you’ve been informed by your legal representatives you cannot apply for bail in this court, the only court that is capable of releasing you on bail is the Supreme Court,” Ms Hartigan said.
A supporter of the Hanburys who was in court for the mention declined to give his full name but said he had known the Hanburys for “a very long time”.
The man said the Hanburys had engaged their lawyers over a year ago.
“The only thing that I can say is it’s very sad that this has happened to them,” he said.
“It’s pretty heartbreaking to see a couple like that losing a child.
“They’re heartbroken.”
EARLIER
Detective Shadlow said Diana was already dead before her mother took her to hospital, and police will allege in court that her parents neglected to get her appropriate medical attention in the lead-up to her death.
He said hospital staff had tried to resuscitate the two year old, and were the ones to raise the alarm to police.
He said Mr and Mrs Hanbury’s five other children were removed from the parents’ custody soon after.
Detective Shadlow declined to comment on Diana’s cause of death.
He said her parents were charged with murder after the thorough and “extensive” Operation Uniform Vauxhall, a collaboration between the Mackay Child Protection Investigation Unit, Child Trauma Unit, and Brisbane’s Crime Intelligence Command.
He said investigators had spoken to a “considerable number” of people, including neighbours of the Hanbury’s North Mackay home.
Detective Shadlow said they had also interviewed staff members at the United Chemist in Andergrove, where CCTV footage captured a woman carrying Diana on December 29, the day before her death.
“As part of the investigation, there was quite a large amount of CCTV (footage) throughout different business premises and the like throughout Mackay which will form part of our brief of evidence,” he said.
Detective Shadlow said the parents were calm when officers arrived to arrest them on Wednesday morning to take them to the Mackay police watch-house.
He said they were charged with murder as opposed to manslaughter because of a “modification to the legislation a number of years ago”.
“It’s what’s referred to as reckless indifference,” he said.
Detective Shadlow declined to comment on whether the Hanbury’s were opposed to vaccinating their children.
Diana Hanbury’s death rocked the Mackay community and prompted Central Coroner David O’Connell to request a police investigation into the tragedy.
Her parents moved to the region in 2020.
After the toddler’s death, police searched the family’s home after declaring a crime scene with Detective Shadlow on Wednesday confirming officers were still investigating the property.
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Originally published as Jessica Polsoni, Adam Hanbury charged with murder over death of Mackay toddler Diana Hanbury
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