Mother faces murder charge after baby son found dead
Jacinta Beth Sells briefly appeared in the Western Australian Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old allegedly murdered her son in the early hours of Monday at the family's home in the suburb of Balcatta, in Perth's northern suburbs.
Police and paramedics were called to the residence about 3am following reports of a serious assault.
The lifeless infant was found with critical injuries and declared dead at the scene.
It is believed the boy suffered stab wounds and Sells was drug-affected.
He is understood to have died in front of family members, including a 13-year-old girl.
A slight woman with long dark hair and a gaunt face, Sells sat motionless in the dock with her head down, flanked by two security guards, before the brief hearing.
She stood when the charge against her was read, acknowledging she understood the accusation before being led from the court.
WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch previously described the incident as "horrific" and a "very sad story".
Sells was remanded in custody to reappear in Stirling Garden Magistrates Court on August 20.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Herald Sun
15 hours ago
- Herald Sun
Alkira Secondary College teacher Laura Ann Hill admits to love affair with student
A Victorian teacher had a secret love affair with a student more than half her age, skipping school with her to smoke marijuana and have sexual rendezvous. Laura Ann Hill, 38, was 'feeling unseen, unloved and exhausted' in her Cranbourne home with her partner and two children when she started the relationship with the 15-year-old girl. The maths and wellbeing teacher at Alkira Secondary College claims she was in love with the girl, and felt the teen was in love with her too. They went on long drives together, had late night hook-ups at parks and Hill's home and would often kiss and talk about their feelings. On one occasion, Hill went to the girl's family home where they smoked marijuana in the garage before heading to her bedroom. The mother of two later had to hide in the closet because the teen's grandmother came home. Details of the shocking breach of trust emerged as Hill fronted the County Court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault of a child under the age of 16, and five counts of sexual penetration of a child. The offending spanned across two months. Her lawyer Anna Dixon said Hill, who is facing up to 10 years behind bars, had written an apology letter to the girl's mother and was deeply remorseful for her actions. 'It is clear the complainant was too young to provide consent,' Ms Dixon said. She said the offending had left her client's 'life in ruins' having lost her relationship with her partner and their children, now aged 8 and 4. Because of the type of offending, she has not even been allowed to have photos of her children in her cell, or in person visits. In trying to explain the 'complex' reasons for Hill's offending, Ms Dixon said her client had a borderline personality disorder, with poor interpersonal boundaries and fantasies of love. 'Ms Hill was a very fragile person when this offending occurred,' she said, with her relationship with her partner deteriorating after having two children. 'She was feeling unseen, unloved and exhausted – and the very need for powerful intimacy was not being met.' The relationship with the schoolgirl 'made her feel loved, seen and important', Ms Dixon said. 'My client has no prior history of being attracted to females let alone children,' Ms Dixon said. It was more about her having an 'emotional connection', she said. The court heard the affair unravelled when Hill's partner became aware of it and told her if she did not report it, he would. She contacted the school's assistant principal to declare the student-teacher relationship. The next day, the complainant made a report to police. Hill was charged two weeks later and bailed to appear at court at a later date. But despite facing the serious charges and being prohibited from any contact with the girl, Hill continued to text and call her. Five days after being charged, she secretly met up with her victim in a playground where they undressed and did sexual acts in the middle of the night. When the girl was soon after staying at her grandfather's place, Hill visited her and stayed the night. Police arrested her again late last year, and she has remained on remand since. The court heard Hill was hired at Alkira in early 2023 as a maths teacher, but was part of the school's wellbeing team to help students who were struggling with behaviour issues and learning difficulties. Hill said she tried to stop the inappropriate relationship at least five times before the sexual conduct happened, telling the girl on one occasion before they kissed 'this isn't a good idea'. Judge Claire Quin will sentence Hill on August 15.
Courier-Mail
17 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
Dalby pair charged with alleged copper, power tools, airconditioning unit theft
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News. Two Dalby men have been charged over the alleged theft of copper, airconditioning units and power tools. About 5.30pm on Tuesday, August 5 police received reports that two men were allegedly acting suspiciously at a makeshift campsite on Burra Burri Darr Creek Rd at Burra Burri near Jandowae. Later that same day about 7pm police were conducting patrols when they intercepted a Toyota LandCruiser towing a trailer along Jandowae Connection Rd at Jandowae. When officers searched the vehicle, they found a large amount of alleged stolen scrap copper along with airconditioning units and power tools. A 36-year-old man and a 43-year-old man, from Dalby, were arrested, taken into custody and each charged with one count of receiving tainted property. The pair were scheduled to appear in the Dalby Magistrates Court today. Investigations are continuing into where the alleged stolen property was taken from. Anyone with information is urged to contact police.
Sky News AU
a day ago
- Sky News AU
Chinese student on exchange program revealed as girl charged with murder over alleged stabbing
A 13-year-old Chinese exchange student has been charged with murder after another young teenager was allegedly fatally stabbed in Newcastle. Emergency services were called to a house on Euston Close, Edgeworth, after reports of a stabbing at around 10.20pm on Monday night. Police officers found a teenage girl with an injury to her torso, and she later died at John Hunter Hospital. The girl is yet to be formally identified but she is believed to 14 years old, a NSW Police statement said.A 13 year-old who was arrested at the scene has since been charged with murder. She was refused bail and is set to appear in a Children's Court on Wednesday. Both young teenagers were Chinese exchange students that arrived in the country from China on July 28, and had been set to return home late this month.
