Perth: A wealthy couple from Floreat is on trial, facing serious allegations of neglect after their teenage daughter was found severely malnourished, with the physical appearance of a much younger child. The couple, whose identities remain confidential to protect the minor, have pleaded not guilty to charges related to recklessly endangering their daughter’s well-being as reported by ABC News. Photo courtesy: ABC News.
During the trial's first day, Prosecutor Jehna Winter told the Perth District Court that the teenager, an only child and homeschooled, had extremely low body weight and hair loss, resembling an 11-year-old despite approaching her 17th birthday. According to Winter, the parents denied their daughter had any health concerns, consistently dismissing worries raised by dance instructors and medical professionals.
The girl, reportedly limited in social interactions outside her family, was often dressed in childlike clothing and showed an affinity for programs and toys aimed at young children. When questioned by child welfare agencies, her parents attributed her small stature and orange-tinged skin to a "healthy vegan diet" and family genetics, explaining her skin tone as a result of consuming too many carrots.
The court was presented with evidence that two dance studios expressed concern over the girl’s appearance and health, with one refusing her participation. Allegedly, the couple attempted to circumvent these concerns by providing a forged birth certificate, claiming she was younger than her actual age.
Winter noted that the girl weighed only 23 kilograms before her hospitalization in 2021, at which point medical assessments confirmed severe malnutrition. Although doctors recommended an electrocardiogram due to elevated heart rates, her parents reportedly denied permission, citing past traumas as reasons to avoid further medical interventions.
Under pressure from authorities, the couple eventually brought their daughter to Perth Children’s Hospital, where she was placed under protective care. Medical evaluations revealed no underlying health issues that could account for her malnutrition, and she gained seven kilograms and grew three centimetres during her 50-day stay.
Throughout the trial, the defence argued that the girl’s condition stemmed from her picky eating habits and underlying anxiety. The mother’s lawyer, Michael Perrella, maintained that his client regularly observed her daughter eating and that the teenager took supplements. He attributed her reluctance to seek medical care to a phobia of germs and hospitals.
Winter told the jury that interactions between the parents and their daughter raised additional concerns, noting instances where they assisted her with personal hygiene in ways deemed unusual for her age. Additionally, the couple allegedly discouraged her from eating hospital-provided meals, suggesting that the feeding tube was harmful.
The trial is ongoing, with further testimony expected regarding the family’s interactions and the daughter’s health condition at the time of her hospitalization.