A Western Australian couple accused of neglecting their six-month-old son, who died in hospital last week, have been granted bail in Perth Magistrates Court. Jahley Poata, 30, and Maraea Te Oke Mae Hunia, 31, face charges of manslaughter after initially being charged with neglect. The court heard the baby was severely malnourished, with saggy skin and eczema with scabs, and had only gained 1.5 kilograms since birth.
The child was taken to Collie Hospital in late September with a serious health condition and later transferred to Perth Children's Hospital, where he died. Police allege the couple failed to seek medical treatment for the baby after he developed a health issue in June. The baby's grandmother had urged them to get medical care, but they did not comply.
During the bail hearing, the police prosecutor said the exact cause of death is yet to be determined, but the charges could be upgraded to murder. The prosecutor argued the couple posed a risk of interfering with witnesses and endangering their other children. However, the defense lawyers argued that the baby may have had a birth disorder or contracted a bacterial infection in hospital, and that the parents were grieving.
Magistrate Brionie Ayling granted bail with strict conditions, including a $10,000 surety, no unsupervised contact with children under 16, surrender of passports, and a ban on discussing the case with each other or witnesses. The couple must also stay away from departure points. The court heard it may take at least six weeks to determine the cause of death.
