A South Australian mother was sentenced to 17 years in prison for the criminal neglect that led to her six-year-old daughter’s death from starvation in 2022.

Crystal Leanne Hanley, a South Australian mother, was sentenced to 17 years in prison for the criminal neglect of her six-year-old daughter, Charlie, who died in July 2022 from severe malnutrition. Hanley admitted to failing to provide basic care, including medical attention, and was found to have lied about seeking help and mocked her daughter’s declining health. Charlie, who weighed just 18 kilograms and had lice, had never attended school. The judge described Hanley’s actions as a fundamental failure as a parent. She must serve at least 12 years before being eligible for parole. The case has drawn national attention to child welfare and the consequences of neglect.