Abdelrahman
Brisbane, Australia — CNN
When a 17-year-old girl was admitted to the hospital, her condition was alarming. Her hair was brittle, her skin flaked, and she exhibited severe malnutrition, leading doctors to warn of potential cardiac arrest and even death.
At just 17, she appeared much younger. Observers at the hospital noted that her parents treated her as if she were still a small child. They assisted her with basic hygiene tasks, watched toddler-friendly cartoons with her, and even cared for her as if she had no independence.
Weighing only 60 pounds (approximately 27.3 kilograms), she resembled a child of about nine years.
Recently, in Perth’s District Court, her parents, an Australian couple in their mid-40s, were given prison sentences for neglecting their only child while still taking her to ballet and piano lessons.
Under Australian law, both the child and her parents are not publicly identified to protect the minor.
"This is not a case about a malnourished ballerina," remarked Judge Linda Black during sentencing.
Now 20, the young woman declined to speak with CNN. According to her father’s attorney, Oliver Paxman, his client felt “very disappointed” with the verdict and was exploring possible legal avenues. The mother’s attorney did not respond to requests for comment.
Judge Black stated that while it was evident the parents loved their daughter, they failed to fulfill their responsibilities to support her physical and emotional development.
“This is not a case about a malnourished ballerina,” Judge Black declared while sentencing the father to six and a half years and the mother to five years, factoring in her “personal circumstances.”
“You isolated your daughter and inhibited her growth and development. You kept her in a state of childhood long past the age she should have been,” she continued.
For the purpose of this article, we will refer to the girl as Kate. Details are derived from court files.
Kate had a passion for dance and was homeschooled by her mother, who chose to leave her job to care for her. Their days were primarily spent at home, but ballet classes provided Kate with opportunities to socialize with peers.
Court documents revealed images of Kate beaming in vibrant costumes, her hair styled and her posture representing the discipline required of a ballerina.
"What a beautiful photo of my ballerina princess!" her father commented on a Facebook post showcasing his daughter, who appeared significantly younger than her actual age of 14.
The father was the family’s main provider, and they resided in one of Perth’s affluent neighborhoods. Judge Black noted the couple’s intelligence, suggesting they were fully aware of how to ensure proper nutrition for themselves yet failed to do so for their daughter.
Despite their apparent understanding of nutrition, the couple neglected to ensure that Kate received adequate food.
Moreover, they stifled her chance to mature like a typical teenager. According to Judge Black, nothing “even remotely age-appropriate” could be found in their home, which was filled with children’s content such as Teletubbies, Frozen, and Thomas the Tank Engine.
Unlike her peers, who were embracing adolescence through work and social media, Kate spent her time having princess-themed birthday parties and receiving dolls. During the crucial pubertal years, Kate stagnated in her growth and development.
In court, her father claimed that she was a “fussy eater” who transitioned to vegetarianism at age eight and veganism in her teens. He asserted that she consumed three meals daily and had access to snacks, denying she was malnourished.
"This was never about depriving a child of food," stated her father’s lawyer, Oliver Paxman.
Veganism involves abstaining from all animal products, including dairy and eggs, relying predominantly on fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds.
Paxman emphasized, “My client did not starve his child … He never withheld food. He adored and indulged his daughter. She was allowed to eat as much as she wished. This case was tied to insufficient nutrition stemming from a vegan diet."
Judge Black was skeptical and stated that the couple couldn’t have overlooked their daughter’s worsening health.
“It appears that everyone who interacted with Kate recognized her severe malnutrition except for the two individuals who claimed to care for her,” Judge Black remarked. She couldn’t fathom how they failed to see the distressing signs of their daughter’s condition.
It became evident that the parents were aware of Kate’s frail state, as her father forged her birth certificate to present her as two years younger, trying to mask increasing concerns about her health.
Photos submitted in court depicted Kate’s frail figure as she participated in ballet classes in Perth, though her identity has been concealed for protection.
Dance instructors and other parents voiced their concerns about Kate’s health and encouraged her parents to seek advice from a nutritionist, but they resisted, ultimately leading teachers to alert authorities.
By the age of 17, Kate was hospitalized at a height of 147.5 centimeters (4 feet 10 inches) and a dangerously low BMI of 12.5, significantly below the healthy range.
The doctor described her as emaciated, with inadequate body fat, pale complexion, and absence of any signs of puberty. He noted brittle hair and dry, flaking skin. An elevated heart rate led to the recommendation of an ECG—a request the parents denied.
As doctors sought to provide care, Kate’s parents suspected a conspiracy against them, expressing distrust towards medical professionals.
While their daughter received treatment for an eating disorder, they even admired the thin appearance of another patient.
“The doctor requested an ECG. You both refused,” Judge Black reiterated.
Additionally, the parents made remarks to Kate about her fullness, associating her recovery with the fear of gaining weight amidst her dire condition—actions deemed wholly unacceptable by Judge Black.
As they obstructed medical interventions, including the insertion of a feeding tube, authorities intervened, placing Kate in state care.
Once separated from her parents’ influence, Kate began to regain weight, leading to the arrest and charges against her parents.
Dr. Danielle Einstein, a clinical psychologist, remarked that cases like Kate’s are exceptionally rare. She noted that while parents typically grapple with the idea of their children growing up, the majority genuinely wish for their independence.
Einstein expressed concern over the tendency of some parents to overprotect or excessively cater to their children’s needs, emphasizing the importance of allowing children to develop essential skills and cope with life’s challenges.
Ultimately, the court concluded that Kate’s parents didn’t merely inhibit her growth; they constructed a series of falsehoods about her age starting in 2016 to obscure their neglect.
The mother initially provided an inaccurate birth date when enrolling Kate in dance classes, making her appear six months younger. Months later, she adjusted the date again, making Kate seem 18 months younger. On another occasion, she reduced her age by two full years.
“You knowingly lied as you recognized that your daughter did not resemble a child of her actual age,” Judge Black stated.
In her sentencing remarks, Judge Black acknowledged that Kate’s parents did claim to love her but did not express this through their actions.
“It is entirely natural for a parent to wish to keep their child close and hesitate to let them mature. That’s perfectly normal,” she reflected.
“However, the issue arises when a parent hinders their child’s natural growth process,” she added.
“One significant failure of yours was believing that you could solely provide her what she desired while neglecting what she fundamentally needed,” Black pointedly remarked.
"It’s often easier for parents to grant their child’s wishes rather than deny them," she concluded.
Kate’s statements underscored the court’s findings that her parents had not equipped her with the necessary skills to thrive independently.
“If my parents go to prison, I don’t think I’ll be able to cope,” Kate shared in her appeal to the judge to reconsider the prosecution.
In a letter, she took partial responsibility for her parents’ situation, emphasizing her reliance on them for meals, living expenses, and even university tuition.
“I love my parents deeply; they are the most significant people in my life,” she expressed, illustrating the complex dynamics at play.
Kate’s father admitted to forging her birth certificate but denied the other allegations. Their legal counsel attributed their actions to unresolved anxiety issues.
Judge Black found that the couple had evaded responsibility for their neglect, concluding there was no justification not to impose a prison sentence on them.
“You have exhibited no remorse or accountability for your actions. You have demonstrated a lack of understanding,” she declared, while both will have the opportunity for parole in the future.
