Perth parents' convictions for starving their ballerina daughter overturned on appeal
Consensus Summary
A Perth couple convicted in November 2024 of starving their teenage ballerina daughter have had their convictions overturned on appeal, with both parents granted bail pending a retrial. The daughter, nearly 17 at the time, weighed around 28kg when admitted to hospital in April 2021 after being enrolled in ballet classes with much younger dancers due to her parents forging her birth certificate. The father was sentenced to over six years in prison, while the mother received five years, with both described as grossly negligent for prioritizing ballet over her well-being. The appeal court ruled the convictions could not stand, though reasons remain unpublished. The next hearing is set for April 24, with the parents required to post $50,000 each in bail conditions. Sources differ slightly on the daughterâs exact age and weight at admission, the timeline of abuse, and additional details about her medical and developmental state during hospitalization.
â Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- The parents were convicted in November 2024 of charges related to starving their teenage daughter, including failing to protect her from harm and reckless care causing suffering
- The daughter was admitted to Perth Childrenâs Hospital in April 2021 at nearly 17 years old, weighing approximately 28kg (27â28kg across sources)
- The parents were sentenced in January 2025 to over six years (father) and five years (mother) with parole eligibility, with Judge Linda Black describing them as 'grossly negligent'
- The father pleaded guilty to forging his daughterâs birth certificate to make her appear younger than she was
- The coupleâs daughter was enrolled in ballet classes with dancers two to three years younger than her actual age
- The parents were granted bail pending a retrial, with each required to provide a $50,000 personal undertaking and $50,000 surety
- The appeal court hearing took place on Tuesday (date not specified but between the two articlesâ publication dates)
- The parents appeared via video link during the appeal court proceedings, with the mother breaking down in tears upon hearing the ruling
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The mother was convicted of failing to protect her from harm *between 2019 and 2021* (specific timeline not mentioned in ABC)
- The father was convicted of reckless care of a child *resulting in suffering* and forging the birth certificate (ABC only mentions the father pleaded guilty to forging)
- The mother was convicted of providing *inadequate emotional, social and functional development* (not explicitly stated in ABC)
- The investigation began on *April 7, 2021* (ABC does not specify the exact date, only that it was in 2021)
- The mother and father were each charged with *two counts of engaging in conduct that caused their child to suffer* (ABC does not specify the number of counts beyond the general charges)
- The retrial is pending a possible fresh court appearance *later this month* (ABC states the next hearing is on *April 24*)
- The court is yet to publish the *reasons for its decision to quash the convictions* (ABC does not mention this detail)
- The girl was *almost 17* when admitted to hospital (NEWSCOMAU states she was 16 at the time of admission)
- Doctors warned she *would have died without urgent medical intervention* (not mentioned in NEWSCOMAU)
- The girl was taken into *state care* when parents refused tube-feeding (not mentioned in NEWSCOMAU)
- Hospital staff reported the girl was *severely emotionally and developmentally delayed* (not mentioned in NEWSCOMAU)
- The parents lived in *Perthâs affluent western suburbs* (not specified in NEWSCOMAU)
- The retrial hearing is scheduled for *April 24* (NEWSCOMAU states it is later this month, without a specific date)
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- NEWSCOMAU states the daughter was 16 years old at hospital admission weighing 28kg, but ABC says she was almost 17 and weighed 27â28kg
- NEWSCOMAU mentions the mother was convicted of failing to protect her from harm *between 2019 and 2021*, while ABC does not specify this timeline
- NEWSCOMAU states the parents were each charged with *two counts* of engaging in conduct causing suffering, but ABC does not specify the number of counts
- NEWSCOMAU says the retrial is pending a possible fresh court appearance *later this month*, while ABC specifies the next hearing is on *April 24*
- ABC includes details about the girl being *severely emotionally and developmentally delayed* and taken into *state care*, which are not mentioned in NEWSCOMAU
Source Articles
Court sets aside convictions of parents for starving daughter, grants bail
A Perth man and woman who were found guilty in 2024 of starving their daughter, who weighed about 28 kilograms when she was admitted to hospital aged nearly 17, have their convictions set aside on app...
Court twist in âstarving ballerinaâ case
A mother and father jailed over the alleged starvation of their ballerina daughter have had their convictions quashed in a major court twist....