According to court documents, a 13-year-old kid who is suspected of raping a fellow patient in a hospital in Western Australia snuck into his supposed victim’s room to hide from nurses working the night shift.
Fearing that compelling his 13-year-old victim to testify about the incident at Perth Children’s Hospital in January of last year might exacerbate her mental state, the prosecutors decided not to press charges against the boy.
Up until September of last year, the kid was being prosecuted on two counts of sexual penetration of a child and one act of indecent dealing with a child.
Prosecutor Brad Hollingsworth described the case before the Children’s Court, saying that at 12.22 am the youngster crept into his claimed victim’s room, moving furniture and hiding behind it to avoid being caught on camera.
Nurses in the mental health unit where the girl and the teen were patients allegedly absconded from their responsibilities for several hours while the teen sexually assaulted her.
The youngster had behaved in an unsettling manner earlier in the day, so they had gathered in an office out of dread for him.
According to Hollingworth, Florence, the child, was brought to the institution “because her mental health was unravelling and she had been sexually assaulted twice.”
He claimed that she was still very fragile and at a high danger of harming herself after the hospital episode.
He claimed that although the complainant’s family was doing everything within their power to keep her safe, the situation was still day-to-day and someone needed to be with her all the time.
“Her parents can’t drive by this hospital without setting her off and making her even more erratic emotionally.”
According to Hollingworth, Florence would have to provide extremely thorough, step-by-step testimony during the trial, and if she was made to do so, there might be severe repercussions.
To further safeguard Florence in case she provided testimony, he also brought up the possibility that she would have to be readmitted to the mental health unit.
“Essentially, requesting her to return to the location where this is purported to have happened,” he stated. “That isn’t practical.”
According to Hollingworth, Florence could not be morally forced to testify against her will by the prosecution.
He stated that there was no chance of a conviction and that it was not in the public interest to press the matter.
Florence and her family were let down by the health system, according to WA Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson, who stated on Tuesday that the tragedy was tragic and avoidable.
She also expressed concern about the staff members’ neglect to request assistance from hospital security.
Due to the occurrence, disciplinary action was taken against the nurses and their supervisor.In addition, the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist and the Mental Health Advocacy Service carried out two independent investigations, and the Child and Adolescent Health Service reviewed the findings.
Sanderson pledged to make public all of the Chief Psychiatrist’s report’s recommendations. Leader of the WA Liberal Party Libby Mettam stated on Wednesday that the government ought to make the other review’s conclusions public as well as carry out any suggestions.
She stated, “Earlier reports had already raised serious concerns about staffing, risks of sexual assault, and the need for gendered wards within this ward.””The public and the family both have a right to know how this happened, and the way this has been handled has destroyed their trust and confidence.”
The government was urged to give Florence’s family additional information by the Australian Nursing Federation.
WA State Secretary Janet Reah stated, “The victim and her family need these answers more than anyone.” “Imagine your child experiencing this and not even understanding the bare facts of what transpired.” She also questioned the veracity of claims that nurses neglected their responsibilities.
