A Floreat mother found guilty of deliberately starving her teenage ballerina daughter has lost her bid for freedom while awaiting an appeal against her convictions.
The woman, who cannot be named to protect her daughter's identity, argued through her lawyers that her trial had been "fundamentally miscarried" and that she should be granted bail pending her appeal hearing.
However, Supreme Court of Western Australia Justice Joseph McGrath dismissed the application, stating the mother had failed to demonstrate exceptional circumstances that would justify her release.
Disturbing Details Emerge
The court heard harrowing details of how the woman's then-15-year-old daughter - an aspiring ballet dancer - was systematically starved to the point where she weighed just 31 kilograms.
Medical evidence presented during the trial revealed the teenager's body mass index had plummeted to a dangerously low 13.9, putting her at serious risk of organ failure and death.
Legal Battle Continues
Defence lawyer Seamus Rafferty had argued that the trial judge made critical errors in directing the jury and in decisions about what evidence could be presented.
"There has been a fundamental miscarriage of justice," Mr Rafferty told the court during the bail application.
Despite these arguments, Justice McGrath found the grounds of appeal weren't sufficiently strong to warrant bail being granted at this stage.
Community Shock in Affluent Suburb
The case has sent shockwaves through Floreat, one of Perth's most affluent western suburbs, where the family was well-known in local circles.
Neighbours and community members have expressed disbelief that such severe malnutrition could occur unnoticed in their midst.
The mother remains in custody while her legal team prepares for the full appeal hearing, which is expected to take place later this year.
