Aaron Danyel Hill faces court over Townsville toddler Rylee-Rose Black’s hot car death

The man charged over the hot car death of a Townsville toddler plans to distance himself from being responsible, a court has heard.

The man charged with manslaughter over a hot car death of Townsville a toddler will seek to distance himself from the responsibility of caring for the child, a court has heard.

Rylee-Rose Black, 3, was rushed to hospital after she was found unresponsive inside her mother’s four-wheel drive parked in the driveway of a Burdell home on November 27, 2020.

Her mother Laura Rose Peverill (Black) and Aaron Danyel Hill each face a single charge of manslaughter over the girl’s death.

Rylee Rose Black with inset Aaron Hill and Laura Peverill (Black)

Hill’s matter was raised during a directions hearing in Townsville Magistrates Court on Monday.

Magistrate Ken Taylor was provided “comprehensive written submissions” by the prosecution and defence in advance of a full hand-up committal hearing, where there would be submissions and cross examination of witnesses.

Defence lawyer Claire Grant said “there was no evidence that (Hill) owed a duty of care to the child, such that he was criminally responsible for the death of the child”.

Magistrate Taylor said it would ultimately be a question of law as to what was a duty of care that would require the facts to be assessed during submissions.

She argued that Rylee-Rose’s father Peter Black should be allowed to be cross examined on a number of matters to obtain the full facts and establish if Hill had a duty of care and how it applied.

Court

Police prosecutor Felicity Nalder said the cross examination of Mr Black should be refused on the basis that it lacked “direction and a clear purpose” and should not be permitted “in the hope of uncovering information”.

She said there was information regarding Hill’s duty of care to Rylee-Rose contained in the brief of evidence.

This included the fact that the couple were living together at the residence, some partial admissions made during a record of interview, arrangements with getting the kids ready for school and Hill’s role as the driver who conveyed Rylee-Rose and her mother on the day of the incident.

Magistrate Taylor agreed to let Mr Black be cross examined, saying “(Hill) should be given the opportunity to be given the information to be able to make submissions”.

The case will return to court on December 1.

Originally published as Aaron Danyel Hill faces court over Townsville toddler Rylee-Rose Black’s hot car death