Despite years of alleged abuse at the hands of her parents, a daughter begged an Australian judge to drop all charges against her mother and father.
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Parents of a 20-year-old in Perth were sentenced at the end of January for neglecting their child, who was 16 at the time. We do not know the names of anyone involved per Australian privacy laws. According to a report by ABC, the parents homeschooled their daughter. Prosecutors allege that they kept her malnourished to make her look younger and even dressed her accordingly.
Ultimately, the girl was in such poor health that she ended up in hospital, reportedly in danger of cardiac arrest.
Per a report by CNN, the daughter's skin was flaking, and her hair was brittle by the time she was admitted. Judge Linda Black sentenced the father to six and a half years in prison. The mother received a slightly shorter sentence at five years owing to 'personal circumstances.'
Despite evidence revealed at the trial, the daughter begged the judge to drop the charges in a letter. She explained that she was fully dependent on her parents, and they paid all her living expenses, including uni fees.
"I love my parents very much. They are the most important people in my life," she said. "If my parents go to prison, I don't think I'll be able to cope," she explained.
The Daughter's Father Is Looking At Legal Options
CNN cites court documents, including several things Judge Linda Black said during the hearing.
"It seems that everyone in the world who had the opportunity to interact with her understood she was severely malnourished, except the two people who professed to love her. I simply cannot accept that you didn't see it. I simply cannot accept that you didn't notice." Judge Black explained.
The father reportedly even forged his daughter's birth certificate, so it said she was two years younger than she actually was. He also allegedly told the court that his daughter was a fussy eater who became vegetarian when she was eight. She decided to become vegan in her early teens.
The father's lawyer, Oliver Paxman, reportedly told CNN, "This was never a case about withholding food from a child. My client didn't starve his kid. He never withheld food from her. He loved and spoiled his daughter. She was free to eat as much as she wanted. This case was about inadequate nutrition from a vegan diet."
When discussing the verdict, Paxman allegedly said his client was "very disappointed" by the outcome and is assessing his legal options.
