Two parents plead not guilty over baby boy’s death in hospital
Two parents accused of neglecting their baby boy to the point of death have pleaded not guilty to manslaughter.
Maraea Te Oke Mae Hunia and her partner Jahley Poata entered their defense at Stirling Gardens Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
The baby, named Jahley, allegedly suffered from a serious health condition for several months before his parents sought medical treatment.
His family took him to a Collie hospital, about 200 km south of Perth, in late September 2022.
The child was transferred to the children’s hospital in Perth but died on October 5, 2022.
Both parents were first accused by police of failing to protect the child in their care from harm a day after their son’s death.
The charges were upgraded to care and control of a child who acted knowingly that the behavior was likely to harm the child, but were dropped and upgraded to manslaughter in December last year.
Ms Hunia and Mr Poata have been on bail since October 2022 and their bail conditions have been extended.
The case was transferred to the high court, where the couple will make their first appearance on April 2 before a hearing date is set.
