Parents of starved girl face court

Subject: Parents of starved girl face court Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:03 pm

THE Department of Community Services wants to vary the apprehended violence orders against a mother and father accused of the starving death of their seven-year-old daughter, a court has heard.

The parents of Shellay Ward, whose wasted body was found in her bedroom last November, appeared in Newcastle Local Court via video link on charges of murdering the girl.

The girl weighed 9 kilograms when her body was found in the bedroom, which was littered with faeces, at her parents' Hawks Nest home, north of Newcastle.

The court heard yesterday that the Department of Community Services was seeking to vary an apprehended violence order taken out by police on Blakeley Ward, 46, and Sharyn Ward, 37, and that police objected to the application.

The Herald cannot name the parties protected by the AVO for legal reasons.

The magistrate, Michael Morahan, said the orders should be determined in Bidura Children's Court this month and directed that interim orders continue.

Solicitor Christine Robinson for the Director of Public Prosecutions said a part-brief of evidence was served on the Crown on Tuesday and would be served on the defence today.

Outstanding material included a final draft of the autopsy report, statements from expert witnesses, including a pediatrician, and the father's financial records. The rest of the brief was ordered to be served by the couple's next court appearance on February 13.

Bearing tattoos on his hands and arms and with his long fair hair loose, the father appeared relaxed during his brief appearance, while his wife, who wore her long brown hair tied up at the front, frowned throughout.

Police allege the couple had been using a false name at a hotel and that the child's mother had attempted to alter her appearance to avoid being detected by police after the couple failed to meet detectives.

The couple were arrested at Wollongong's Albion Park railway station on November 17, a fortnight after the girl was found dead on a mattress on the floor of her bedroom.

Medical reports tendered by the prosecution on November 21 concluded that the girl's death was very likely due to chronic malnutrition and neglect.

No pleas have been entered.

Neither accused applied for bail, which was formally refused by Mr Morahan.

Link.

Subject: Re: Parents of starved girl face court Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:19 pm

May they burn in "hell" for all eternity! Scum!

Parents of starved girl face court

Parents of starved girl face court

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