MOTHER ‘ LET BABY DROWN IN BATH’
Police allege ‘ gross neglect’ led to death of nine- month- old
A MOTHER- of- five has been charged with manslaughter after her nine- month- old son drowned in a bathtub while she allegedly socialised with her family.
Kandita Kattenberg, 28, was yesterday charged over the death of her youngest child Carlyle, who died in their Charters Towers home on November 9 last year.
Carlyle’s two older brothers, aged seven and 10, rushed to his aid and tried to revive their baby brother, but he could not be saved.
Townsville Child Protection Investigation Unit officer- in- charge detective Senior Sergeant Dave Miles said police would allege gross negligence by Kattenberg led to the death of the baby boy.
“This case is based upon, what we will allege, is the gross neglect on the part of the mother, regarding a child being left unsupervised in a bath for an extended period of time,” Sen- Sgt Miles said.
“Police will allege during the course of that the child has drowned.
“The mother of the child was also at the residence talking to other people while the child was in the bath.
“It will be alleged the mother put more priority in her social activities than she did in her supervision of the child in the bath.
“The woman has been charged with manslaughter.”
Carlyle was found in the bathtub by his older brothers.
“The deceased was located by his older siblings who immediately tried to render assistance,” Sen- Sgt Miles said.
“All of ( Kattenberg’s) other children no longer reside with her.”
Sen- Sgt Miles said the investigation was protracted while police waited for medical and forensic evidence.
“We completed the investigation and were awaiting some final medical determinations and as a result of that we are now in a position to charge her with manslaughter,” he said.
Kattenberg was yesterday given watch- house bail from Charters Towers Police Station, under strict conditions.
She is scheduled to appear in Charters Towers Magistrates Court on April 18.
IT WILL BE ALLEGED THE MOTHER PUT MORE PRIORITY IN HER SOCIAL ACTIVITIES THAN SHE DID IN HER SUPERVISION OF THE CHILD IN THE BATH DETECTIVE SENIOR SERGEANT DAVE MILES