Source : Perth Now news
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 pleas in the Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
It is alleged the infant, also named Jahley, suffered from a serious health condition for several months before his parents sought medical treatment.
His parents took him to a Collie hospital, about 200km south of Perth, in late September 2022.
The child was transferred to the children’s hospital in Perth but he died on October 5, 2022.
Both parents were initially charged by police with failing to protect a child in their care from harm a day after their son’s death.
Their charges were upgraded to having care and control of a child engaged in conduct knowing that conduct may result in harm to 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 were extended.
The case was moved to the higher Supreme Court where the pair will make their first appearance on April 2 before a trial date is set.
