| Accused father's 'mental illness' |
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Article from: AAP A MAN charged over the rape and murder of his 10-year-old daughter had been receiving treatment for mental illness, a Brisbane court has been told. The 39-year-old man, who cannot be named, was today remanded in custody after facing Brisbane Magistrate's Court. The appearance followed the discovery yesterday of the girl's body in the bedroom of a holiday home at Bongaree on Bribie Island, north of Brisbane, by her brother and sister about 8.30am. The unemployed Brisbane man was arrested yesterday afternoon at Mt Glorious northwest of Brisbane after a police search for him and his seven-year-old son. He faced court today charged with murder, rape and indecent dealing of a child under 10. The man's solicitor Neil Lawler told the court his client had been under an involuntary treatment for mental illness. Outside court, Mr Lawler said his client had been released from the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital on December 22. Libs want inquiry into Qld child's death
Article from: AAP Queensland's opposition has called for a public inquiry into the state Child Safety Department after a man being treated for mental illness was charged over the rape and murder of his 10-year-old daughter. The 39-year-old unemployed funeral director, who cannot be named, was on Wednesday remanded in custody after appearing in Brisbane Magistrates Court. The girl's body was discovered in the bedroom of a holiday home at Bongaree on Bribie Island, north of Brisbane, by her brother and sister about 8.30am (AEST) Tuesday. The man's solicitor, Neil Lawler, told the court his client had been under an involuntary treatment order for mental illness. Outside court, Mr Lawler said his client had been released from the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital on December 22. The man, from Bardon in Brisbane's west, was arrested Tuesday afternoon at Mount Glorious in Brisbane's north-west after a police search for him and his seven-year-old son. He faced court on Wednesday charged with murder, rape and indecent dealing with a child under 10. The seven-year-old boy and two siblings, believed to be aged six and nine, have been taken into the care of the Department of Child Safety. In a statement issued late Wednesday, the Department said it knew the family as a result of "low-level concerns" which did not meet the threshold for an official notification. The statement said it relied on the community to report alleged child abuse and neglect in order to undertake a risk assessment. It added that it had no knowledge of the father's mental health status and as the matter was currently before the courts, it could not comment further. But acting opposition leader Mark McArdle said the department needed to provide some answers. "I want the Child Safety Department to reveal all contact it had with this family," Mr McArdle told AAP. "I'm not satisfied with an internal investigation - if they are going to hold one. "The history of this department since 2004 when (former Premier) Peter Beattie said it would be cleaned up and properly funded has simply gotten worse. "There is now an overwhelming case for a full investigation into the department and for any inquiry to be held in a public vein with public consultation with people who have interests and also (who are) concerned about how the department is running." Mr McArdle also called for more transparency on whether mental health authorities and Department of Child Safety personnel had communicated with each other on the case. The man will undergo further assessment and treatment at the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre, west of Brisbane, ahead of his next appearance in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on March 10. The Department of Child Safety said an independent child death review would be conducted. "This review will then be referred to the Child Death Case Review Committee, which is chaired by the Commissioner for Children and Young People and Child Guardian," a statement said. "It would be inappropriate to pre-empt the results of this review. "The Child Protection Act 1999 (the Act) allows the department to commence an investigation when it is in receipt of sufficient information regarding alleged harm or risk of harm to a child." 'No point blaming Govt' over girl's rape, murderWed Jan 2, 2008 5:31pm AEDT The Mental Health Council of Australia says it is pointless trying to blame the Queensland Government and mental health agencies over yesterday's death of a 10-year-old girl at Bribie Island, north of Brisbane. The girl's 39-year-old father appeared in court this morning charged with murder, rape and indecently dealing with a child under 16 of lineal descent. He has been remanded in custody until March 10. The court heard he was placed under an involuntary treatment order before the incident and was released on December 22. Mental Health Council spokesman Simon Tatz says mental illnesses are complex. "It is not uncommon for someone to be assessed not at risk, not to be admitted into a mental health unit or for treatment and then subsequently the situation is changed, often with tragic consequences," he said. "This doesn't always mean the system is at fault." Mr Tatz says the situation is tragic and more resources are needed. "Looking for simple answers to blame at this stage is not helpful," he said. "This goes back to the whole complexity of how we treat people with the mental illness, the services that are offered, the community care that is offered and the ability for people who are suffering from some form of mental illness to seek early and appropriate treatment." Neighbours shockedBribie Island residents have described the murder as an unbelievable tragedy. Neighbour Janine Williams says she is in shock. "It was dreadful, I mean the whole neighbourhood just can't believe it, it's a terrible thing to happen to a child," she said. Shirley Dunn says she did not hear anything. "That's the most devastating part. We were sitting on our balcony celebrating New Year's Eve," she said. Children's Commission begins Bribie Is murder probePosted January 22, 2008 08:48:00 The Children's Commission will today begin interviewing people as part of an investigation into the murder of a 10-year-old girl at Bribie Island on New Year's Eve. The child's 39-year-old father has been charged with her murder. He had been released from involuntary treatment for a mental illness just nine days before her death. Commissioner Elizabeth Fraser says all agencies involved in the case will be questioned. A report is expected to be finished by the end of March.
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