Coroner gobsmacked

The coroner's inquest into the death of a five-month-old baby girl ended in Kununurra on Friday, after even more startling revelations.

Some were so legally damning that testimony was suppressed from publication.

The gist of the case is that Baby Sturt died on a filthy mattress, sleeping between her drunken parents Elizabeth Carlton and George Sturt under a veranda at Mirima Reserve, Kununurra.

An autopsy revealed she had died from undiagnosed pneumonia and had suffered such severe nappy rash that her dark skin had been bleached white from her crotch to halfway up her back.

The child's body was riddled with scabies.

Horrible? Yes, but there was worse to come.

Six weeks before the baby's death, relations of the baby had taken it to the Department for Community Development (DCD) and begged officers to take it from its mother and place it in the care of a sober Christian relative in Fitzroy Crossing.

Coroner Alastair Hope seemed unable to believe that a DCD officer had suggested that the family act on its own as one option of how to get the baby away from the mother, who did not want to surrender it (virtually kidnapping).

The baby's relations told the court they had no doubt that Baby Sturt would be alive today if the DCD had taken her from Elizabeth Carlton.

Was this bad enough? No, it was to get even worse.

It was revealed that the DCD had an extensive file, amassed over 10 years, on the neglect of Ms Carlton's four other children.

Despite all this, DCD senior child protection officer Katherine Bertola said she did not consider pushing for a protection order.

The detective heading up the investigation Det. Sgt Tim Lines was stonewalled when he attempted to interview DCD staff.

Statements from DCD staff would not come for another 18 months.

Had Det. Sgt Lines had troubles with the DCD before?

He told the inquest that in one particular case a three-year-old girl was diagnosed with the sexually transmitted diseases Chlamydia and gonorrhoea.

It was the detective's opinion that the child should be removed from the community because she was past 'being in danger' and had been offended against.

DCD decided to leave the child and sometime down the track she caught the diseases again.

Outside the court, the actions of DCD staff was amazing as they shielded Elizabeth Carlton from press photographers and then Justine de Candia.

One of those doing the shielding was Shire President Michele Pucci.

It would seem a pity they did not feel as protective towards a defenceless five-month-old baby that had enjoyed little happiness in its short life.

The coroner is expected to deliver his findings in mid January.