A mum accused of killing her two-year-old son by failing to quickly get him to hospital and save him from blunt-force head injuries has been denied bail.
The 24-year-old woman faced the NSW Supreme Court on Wednesday charged with manslaughter by means of gross criminal negligence.
The boy was taken to Griffith Base Hospital, in regional NSW, on December 1, 2023, with significant head injuries.
He was airlifted to Sydney Children's Hospital for treatment, but died two days later.
Police launched an investigation and charged the woman in April 2024.
The court on Wednesday was told the boy had sustained the head injuries from severe blunt-force trauma sometime between November 26 and December 1.
Acting Justice Robert Hulme said the cause of the boy’s injuries was unknown, but there was evidence he could have survived if taken to hospital on November 29 or 30.
Police have appealed for information from anyone who saw the child in the week before his death in the regional towns of Leeton, Binya or Griffith.
The woman is due to face trial in Wagga Wagga District Court in March 2027.
In a separate case, she has been charged with assaulting another child, causing grievous bodily harm.
She was allegedly witnessed hitting the child on November 30, 2023, with the child seen with injuries on December 1.
The woman has also been charged with threatening to harm, bash and put her younger sister - a witness to the manslaughter prosecution - in hospital.
In arguing for her to be released on bail, the woman’s lawyer said the proposed conditions of her release were tailored, strict and comprehensive.
She said her client had done a behaviour intervention program while in prison and had transport to a place to stay in Griffith.
In denying bail, Justice Hulme said the woman had been in and out of jail five times after being released and then breaching her bail conditions.
He also expressed skepticism about the “glowing review” by the friend she proposed to stay with while on bail, and the relationship the defendant had with the woman's five children.
“It seems somewhat at odds with allegations of the three matters,” he said.
