ABC - May 22, 2009
The murder trial of a couple who allegedly starved their daughter to death has heard the father was gambling on the internet, unaware the child was dead in her bedroom.
The couple is accused of murdering the girl by neglect but have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In previous days, The Supreme Court trial at East Maitland has heard the girl appeared "mummified" and looked much smaller than her age when her body was found.
It has also heard the body of the seven-year-old girl was found by her mother about 7:00am on Saturday November 3, 2007.
The father asserts he did not become aware of the death until about 11:00am that morning, when his wife acknowledged that something was wrong with their daughter.
During today's proceedings the jury was given an account of the man's internet gambling activities on the morning the body was found.
According to the betting records tendered, the father made seven bets between 9:45am and 10:53am, and he received two winning payments totalling $33.
In earlier evidence, the court heard the man thought it was going to be a good day after having his first win that morning.
The trial also heard the couple had a deep distrust of the Department of Community Services (DOCS).
The court was told DOCS case worker Lauren Barker had been given an order for the couple's three children to undergo medical check-ups six months before their seven-year-old daughter died.
But the court was told the couple refused Ms Barker's requests because they were unhappy the department had taken away a fourth child, described as a baby.
The court also heard the parents were told the seven-year-old needed to be placed in a special school.
Department of Education liaison officer Lyn Savage detailed her attempts in 2007 to meet with the father to discuss his children's schooling.
Ms Savage said in one conversation she told the father that his youngest daughter, the girl who died, should have been attending a special school.
She also suggested the girl's two elder sisters be enrolled in a school rather being home-schooled, as their father wanted.
The court heard appointments were made for face-to-face meetings to discuss the situation but the father never kept them.
The department lost contact with the family when they left Sydney for the Hunter region.
The trial resumes on Monday.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/australian-news/5587664
The murder trial of a couple who allegedly starved their daughter to death has heard the father was gambling on the internet, unaware the child was dead in her bedroom.
The couple is accused of murdering the girl by neglect but have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In previous days, The Supreme Court trial at East Maitland has heard the girl appeared "mummified" and looked much smaller than her age when her body was found.
It has also heard the body of the seven-year-old girl was found by her mother about 7:00am on Saturday November 3, 2007.
The father asserts he did not become aware of the death until about 11:00am that morning, when his wife acknowledged that something was wrong with their daughter.
During today's proceedings the jury was given an account of the man's internet gambling activities on the morning the body was found.
According to the betting records tendered, the father made seven bets between 9:45am and 10:53am, and he received two winning payments totalling $33.
In earlier evidence, the court heard the man thought it was going to be a good day after having his first win that morning.
The trial also heard the couple had a deep distrust of the Department of Community Services (DOCS).
The court was told DOCS case worker Lauren Barker had been given an order for the couple's three children to undergo medical check-ups six months before their seven-year-old daughter died.
But the court was told the couple refused Ms Barker's requests because they were unhappy the department had taken away a fourth child, described as a baby.
The court also heard the parents were told the seven-year-old needed to be placed in a special school.
Department of Education liaison officer Lyn Savage detailed her attempts in 2007 to meet with the father to discuss his children's schooling.
Ms Savage said in one conversation she told the father that his youngest daughter, the girl who died, should have been attending a special school.
She also suggested the girl's two elder sisters be enrolled in a school rather being home-schooled, as their father wanted.
The court heard appointments were made for face-to-face meetings to discuss the situation but the father never kept them.
The department lost contact with the family when they left Sydney for the Hunter region.
The trial resumes on Monday.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/australian-news/5587664
uke1:
