A 32-year-old woman has been charged with murder after allegedly killing her four-year-old son and cooking parts of his arm before turning herself in at Wyong Police Station on the NSW Central Coast.
Police Investigation and Charges
The woman entered Wyong Police Station about 4.40pm on Saturday and made statements that concerned officers. Police conducting a welfare check at a nearby home shortly after found the boy's badly injured body. Police believe he had been "deceased for some time" before his body was discovered.
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, allegedly cut off and cooked parts of the boy's arm. Police are now investigating whether cannibalism was involved. A court granted investigators the power to carry out a DNA test on the mother's mouth and collect a sample of blood and a nail clipping. She was charged with murder and had bail formally refused during an appearance before the Bail Division Court on Sunday.
Community Reaction and Tribute
Heartbroken locals have laid flowers at a growing tribute to the young boy near the scene. The community has expressed shock and grief over the incident.
Scrutiny Over Child Protection
The Department of Community and Justice on Monday revealed that child protection workers had visited the family three times during the boy's short life. NSW Families and Communities Minister Kate Washington refused to comment on claims the 32-year-old had drug-induced psychosis. "There are many complexities involved in this case and I do not want to prejudice the criminal investigation that's underway," she said.
Washington denies her department is losing control despite thousands of cases slipping through the cracks. Shadow minister Natasha Maclaren-Jones claimed close to 150,000 young people who had reports presented were not seen by a caseworker. An independent review will investigate how department workers acted and why, given the history, the child was living with the mother and whether more could have been done. "I intend to publicly release the review subject to any legal constraints," Washington said.
