Mum starved baby, claims prosecution

A Geraldton mother has been accused of starving her three-month-old daughter to death before wrapping her in cloth, putting her in a cooler bag and leaving her in her back shed.

The “extensively decomposed” remains of Tamara Thompson's premature baby Destiny were found in a shed at their Waggrakine home in July last year.

Ms Thompson, who fell pregnant to her methamphetamine dealer, is on trial in the Supreme Court accused of murdering Destiny between April 1 and July 19 of that year.

Prosecutor Carmel Barbagallo told the court Ms Thompson did not want a sixth child and Destiny’s father wanted nothing to do with her.

She said Ms Thompson told people she saw Destiny’s father every time she looked at her baby’s face.“Destiny was not a planned or wanted baby,” she said.

“Destiny was not a baby that was about to come into this world into the welcoming, warm, loving arms of her mother.”

Ms Barbagallo said Destiny was last seen by Ms Thompson’s family and friends about two months before her remains were found.

It is alleged Ms Thompson told people Destiny was with the Department for Child Protection or with friends.

The State alleges Ms Thompson’s lies unravelled after her landlord visited her home for a rent inspection and discovered it was filthy and had no washing machine or fridge.

The sight of vomit on the children’s beds and the faeces from dogs, cats, rabbits and chickens throughout the house prompted the woman to contact the department.

Defence lawyer Helen Prince told the jury parents expected their children to outlive them but some babies died from natural causes.

She said tragedy struck one night when Ms Thompson went into Destiny’s room to feed her and found her daughter dead and looking “peaceful”.

“Ms Thompson knows she is not a good mother,” she said.

“It does not mean that she did not love Destiny.”

Ms Prince told the jury her client “lost it” after Destiny’s death and was rocking backwards and forwards in animal faeces when her landlord came to the house.

“That was the grief-stricken disaster that her life had become,” she said.

Destiny’s cause of death could not be ascertained because of the decomposition to her body.

Ms Barbagallo alleged Ms Thompson “persistently” advertised toys and clothes for sale that were Destiny’s size or bigger in the lead-up to her death because she knew her baby would not live long enough to wear them.

The trial continues.