William Tyrrell’s foster parents appeal convictions handed down for the assault and intimidation of another child in their care
The former foster parents of William Tyrrell have appealed against their convictions and the severity of the sentence handed down for the abuse and intimidation of another child in their care.
Lawyers for one of the parents appeared in Sydney’s Downing Center District Court on Wednesday, about two and a half months after they were both sentenced by a local court magistrate.
The couple, who cannot legally be named or identified, were found to have intimidated a child who was not William on several occasions.
The mother’s threats to hit the child twice count as intimidation, magistrate Susan McIntyre ruled in March.
The woman was heard saying to the child: ‘I shouldn’t get to the point where I’m threatening to hurt you because it’s a huge problem.’
William Tyrrell’s foster parents, who cannot be named for legal reasons
A $million reward remains for information on William Tyrrell’s disappearance
She previously pleaded guilty to two counts of assault after hitting the child with a wooden spoon and kicking her in the thigh.
The foster father was also convicted of once intimidating the child while driving to school, during which he heard the child crying and sobbing.
Prosecutors relied on more than 1,000 hours of secret recordings made in the couple’s homes and vehicles over 14 months in 2020 and 2021.
The footage was taken by detectives investigating the disappearance of three-year-old William, who went missing while playing at his foster grandmother’s home in Kendall on the NSW north coast on September 12, 2014.
Ms McIntyre acquitted the foster mother of five charges of harassment and dismissed one charge of child abuse against the foster father.
The pair were convicted and given 12 months good behavior bonds.
They will next appear for a brief appearance at Downing Center District Court on June 25.
The police investigation into whether the foster mother was involved in William’s disappearance has been suspended until the investigation into the toddler’s death resumes.
Investigators had instructed prosecutors to consider possible charges against the woman, who they believed had disposed of William’s body after his accidental death.
She has always denied having anything to do with William’s disappearance.
No one has been charged in the case and there is still a $1 million reward for information.
