A man whose almost 17-year-old daughter was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with grade 4 malnutrition, weighing just 28 kilograms, has taken the stand at his trial to defend accusations the girl was neglected.
The 47-year-old, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his daughter, told the jury the girl excelled academically, loved pasta, had a daily regime of supplements to complement her organic vegan diet, and ate “whatever she wanted”.
A man and a woman are on trial over the emaciated condition of their daughter whose age they lied about.
The cyber security consultant and his wife, from Floreat, were arrested and charged with having care or control of a child engaged in conduct that was reckless after complaints were made by dance school teachers that lead to Department of Communities involvement in 2020.
Authorities were contacted after concerns were raised about the girl being very small for her age, incredibly thin, with her head out of proportion than the rest of her body.
The girl was also allegedly dressed like a much younger child, encouraged to watch preschool-aged television shows, had no understanding of menstruation, and still held her mother’s hand despite being 16 years old at the time.
After allegedly refusing to get her medically assessed, the couple eventually took the child to a GP who said she was at risk of cardiac arrest and refeeding syndrome.
The couple was directed to take the girl to Perth Children’s Hospital, where she was diagnosed with grade 4 malnutrition and placed on a nasogastric feeding tube.
She was later removed from her parents and placed into foster care after they allegedly obstructed her treatment. Doctors found no medical reason for the girl’s malnutrition.
The father was also charged with – and later admitted – forging a birth certificate which he supplied to a dance school, claiming the girl was two years younger than she was.
The father took to the stand in Perth District Court on Wednesday as the parents’ defence team opened their case.
He told the jury the girl came from a family of small, thin people – noting he weighed 54 kilograms at 169 centimetres tall.
The jury was also told he suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder, and struggled with anxiety and obsessive compulsive thoughts around cleanliness.
He claimed his daughter had difficulty around feeding as a baby and a small child, which was monitored by paediatricians and gastroenterologists.
He said the girl was homeschooled because she showed “incredible talent” for music, and he and his wife bought her a $9500 pink baby grand piano for her seventh birthday.
Department of Education moderation reports were also shown to the jury, describing the girl’s academic abilities as “impressive” and stating that “community and social connections remain strong”.
The father also told the jury it was the girl’s decision to become first vegetarian and then vegan, but said she had always been “a fussy eater”.
He also said she ate three meals a day plus snacks, and her favourite food was pasta.
The father said there was no calorie-counting in the house, no weight scales, and the girl had a daily intake of nine different vitamins.
The man added that he never saw the girl watch preschool television shows, that she dressed in whatever she chose to, had a mobile phone with regular contact with friends, and had no assistance brushing her teeth, showering or getting dressed.
He told the court it was “an unbelievable suggestion” that his daughter could not cross a street alone, and claimed her favourite TV shows included Married at First Sight, The Voice, Lego Masters, My Kitchen Rules and Masterchef.
He also told the jury his daughter had taken piano lessons with a classical pianist from the age of 11 and was now studying classical music at WAAPA.
The trial continues.
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