THE haunting final days of a six-year-old girl who is said to have died of starvation while living in a squalid “house of horrors” have been revealed.
Tragic Charlie was found unresponsive and “stone cold” at her family home in Adelaide, Australia, in the early hours of Friday morning.
Frantic neighbours in Adelaide, Australia, desperately tried to revive the youngster[/caption]
Her five siblings – aged eight, ten, 13, 14 and 15 – were also living at the neglected property, littered with old toys, boxes, a tent and electric appliances.
The six-year-old’s death has sparked a major probe into the suffering of the youngsters, who have since been taken into care.
Authorities are now investigating their mother for criminal neglect.
Damning court documents revealed the family was already known to at least three government services, including the Department of Child Protection.
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Just last year, the children watched their “drug-fuelled” dad repeatedly stab their mother at their home in January.
But despite witnessing the entire ordeal – and their father’s history of domestic violence and drug abuse – authorities did not intervene.
The final 12 months of Charlie’s life are now being scrutinised by police, who are delving into her dire living conditions and poor diet.
A neighbour of the troubled brood has now revealed the details of the devastating evening the six-year-old passed away.
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The resident, named Bec, told Daily Mail Australia how she battled to try and save Charlie’s life after her frantic mother woke her up.
She explained: “It was about 1am and we were about to go to sleep, and we heard this banging on the door.
“Charlie’s mum was screaming ‘Charlie isn’t breathing!’ so we raced over there.
“She was on the floor in a nappy and she was paper white. When I touched her she was stone cold and her eyes were open and fixated on the ceiling.
“We did everything to try and get Charlie to breathe.”
Bec said her sister desperately tried to resuscitate the emaciated little girl, before realising there was something in her mouth.
The pair tried to clear her airway and recommenced CPR, before paramedics took over and worked on Charlie for around 30 minutes.
She was on the floor in a nappy and she was paper white. When I touched her she was stone cold and her eyes were open and fixated on the ceiling.
Bec
The mum-of-five explained despite their valiant efforts to get air back into her lungs, “her heart didn’t want to start”.
The young girl was pronounced dead at the Lyell McEwin Hospital, after passing away due to suspected malnutrition.
Bec says she despairingly tried to shield Charlie’s siblings from seeing their lifeless sister, saying they were traumatised by her shock death.
The family’s neighbour said the six-year-old “wasn’t allowed to leave the house” during the last few weeks of her life as she was suffering from a mystery illness.
She continued: “After a while, she came over less and less and then she wasn’t allowed to come over and play with my two-year-old daughter, and she wasn’t allowed to leave the house.”
Bec claims the children never looked healthy and were often ridden with headlice, which she admirably tried to help them get rid of.
The mum slammed the “system” for failing Charlie, blaming the Department of Child Protection for not saving her from the “house of horrors” sooner.
Officials said paramedics were so concerned by the girl’s condition, that they called the police before she was even admitted to hospital.
POLICE PROBE
Police had attended Charlie’s home only 18 months ago after her father flew into a rage and attacked her mother with a knife.
He was under the influence of methylamphetamine after relapsing and stabbed his partner of 18 years three times, a court heard.
But Charlie’s mother wanted to take him back despite the horrific attack, seeing the prosecutor flag the case as “an interest” for the Department of Child Protection.
They predicted the government body would “get involved again” and said the mother was “probably lacking in insight into the preservation of her own safety.”
The dad pleaded guilty to the downgraded offence of causing harm with intent and was sentenced to five years and six months in jail.
He was also sentenced for aggravated assault four years ago, after slapping the same victim in the face.
The turbulent home life of the six children is now being investigated, with cops trying to determine the last time – if ever – Charlie had attended school.
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SA Deputy Police Commissioner Linda Williams described their living conditions as “poor”, but said it was too early to determine if the child’s death could have been prevented.
A special taskforce, Task Force Prime, has been formed to investigate Charlie’s death and the circumstances behind it.
Her five surviving siblings have been taken into care as cops investigate their mother for criminal neglect[/caption]
Locals said they did not see tragic Charlie during the final weeks of her life[/caption]
