Father accused of starving daughter rejects claims she was unhealthy, telling court she was a 'fussy eater'

WARNING: This story contains details that some readers may find distressing.

The Perth father accused of starving his malnourished 16-year-old daughter has rejected claims she was dangerously unhealthy with childlike interests, telling a court she was a fussy eater who watched adult shows like Married At First Sight.

The father, along with the girl's mother, is on trial in the District Court accused of causing his daughter to suffer after the emaciated teen was admitted to Perth Children's Hospital [PCH] in 2021 weighing just over 27 kilograms just before her 17th birthday.

The court has heard evidence from hospital staff that she watched TV shows aimed at young children and needed help with basic self care like hair brushing.

Today the father took the stand at the trial for the first time, telling the court his daughter had "feeding issues" as a child and had decided to become a vegetarian when she was eight.

She then became vegan at the age of 12 or 13, he said, and while a "fussy eater", still ate three main meals daily and had access to snacks.

All her food was organic and "as pure as possible", he said, and she was given supplements including omega 3, probiotics, iron, zinc, magnesium, calcium, B12 and vitamins C and D.

The court was shown a document recording a visit to a medical centre in 2017, when she had an infection.

At the time she was about 13 and her weight was determined at 21 kilograms.

The father said he was never made aware of the concerns of dance teachers, who alerted the child protection department as they believed the girl was underweight.

He said parents at a dance school had made "positive comments" about his daughter and this reinforced his view about her health.

The court was shown photos of the girl in ballet clothing.

The father was asked by his lawyer if he had any concerns about her appearance in the photos and he said: "No."

He was asked if he had observed any changes in her health or weight after August 2020, and he said he had not.

Small frame hereditary: father

The man, who is in his 40s and cannot be identified to protect his daughter's identity, said he worked in cybersecurity and had been diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder when he was 17.

Symptoms included compulsive thoughts around cleanliness, checking and hoarding.

He was small and slender as a child, and the court was shown photos of him as a boy.

His daughter was homeschooled, he said, because she'd shown she could "read at a good level around three" and had a "real interest in dance".

The homeschooling style "worked for us as a family," he told the court.

The court has previously heard reports from hospital staff that the parents treated their daughter as if she was a much younger child, and there were concerns about her childlike tastes.

Today he rejected such claims, telling the court she could cross the street by herself and catch public transport.

Daughter 'likes Married at First Sight'

While in hospital, the court heard, she watched TV programs like The Wiggles, and Bluey, singing along to the songs with her parents.

But the father said she didn't watch Bluey at home, and the programs she liked included Married At First Sight, Legomasters, My Kitchen Rules, and "singing ones like The Voice".

The court was shown Education Department reports from the years leading up to her admission to hospital, with a 2017 report recording "community and social connections remain strong".

The following year a department moderator noted the girl had shown "excellent standards" across her learning and should be "commended".

A later report referred to her writing short stories and poetry, and highlighted "impressive handwriting standards and presentation".

'Mum does that'

Earlier, the court heard more evidence from occupational therapist Gemma Warrington, whose role at PCH was to encourage independence in children.

Ms Warrington told the court the teenager said she could use a microwave but not a can opener or blender.

The teenager's answer to most questions was "Mum does that".

"There was an expectation she shouldn't be doing these things because mum does them," Ms Warrington said.

The court heard yesterday the girl's father gave her a magnetic fish game as a birthday gift, which Ms Warrington thought was inappropriate for a 17-year-old.

The father's lawyer Oliver Paxman asked Ms Warrington today if she knew the girl was also playing Uno and Scrabble in hospital.

"I was aware she was playing board games," Ms Warrington responded, but couldn't recall if the girl had played Scrabble.

However, she agreed with Mr Paxman that it wasn't a game suitable for very young children.

The trial, before Judge Linda Black, is continuing.