Parents Maraea Te Oke Mae Hunia, Jahley Poata charged with manslaughter after allegedly neglecting six-month-old baby

Two parents accused of causing the death of a boy who was allegedly neglected to the point of death have raised their charges in court after a three-year investigation.

Maraea Te Oke Mae Hunia and her husband Jahley Poata were first accused of neglecting to care for their baby boy in 2022.

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 but died on October 5, 2022.

Both parents were accused by police of failing to protect the child in their care from harm a day after their son’s death.

His charges were upgraded last year to having the care and control of a child who committed an act knowing the conduct was likely to harm the child, but those charges were dropped and upgraded to manslaughter at Stirling Gardens Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

Ms Hunia and Mr Poata have been on bail since October 2022 and their bail conditions have been extended.

State prosecutor Jehna Winter said the case was “drawing on” and she wanted to take the matter to trial after encountering delays with medical evidence.

Magistrate Acacia Hosking warned the defendants that they should make a defense at the next hearing and adjourned the case to February 18.

The defendant’s lawyers had previously stated that the allegations would be defended.