00:00It took the District Court jury four hours to convict the parents of engaging in conduct
00:07that caused their child to suffer, failing to ensure proper nutrition and failing to
00:11ensure emotional, social and functional development.
00:14The court heard the 16-year-old weighed only 27 kilograms before being taken to Perth Children's
00:20Hospital in 2021.
00:22After the parents refused a feeding tube, the teenager was taken into the care of the
00:26Child Protection Department.
00:28Authorities had started investigating after two dance teachers raised the alarm, concerned
00:33about the girl's emaciated appearance.
00:35The court had heard the daughter was observed in hospital to have tastes and interests of
00:40a child much younger than 16.
00:42Prosecutor Jenna Winter said she was at risk of exploitation and abuse in the future.
00:47Judge Linda Black refused bail, saying there was a risk of further harm to the daughter,
00:51even though she was now an adult.
00:53She was highly critical of the mother's decision to call her daughter as a witness, saying
00:58she'd never ever had a case when a person who'd been charged with abuse had called the
01:02abused person to give evidence.
01:05Judge Black was very critical of the mother's attempt to have the trial vacated after her
01:09daughter suffered a panic attack and could not give evidence.
01:12The mother and father are scheduled to be sentenced in January.
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