Australian parents convicted

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Australian parents convicted in starvation death of autistic 7-year-old daughter

EAST MAITLAND, Australia (AP) — The parents of an autistic 7-year-old girl who weighed barely 20 pounds (9 kilograms) were convicted Tuesday of starving their daughter to death.A New South Wales Supreme Court jury found the 35-year-old mother guilty of murder and convicted her husband, 47, of manslaughter in the child's November 2007 death.The couple, who cannot be named for legal reasons meant to protect the identity of their other children, pleaded not guilty to murdering their daughter.The prosecution said the girl died as a result of long-lasting starvation and neglect. Several doctors testified she suffered the most severe case of malnutrition they had ever seen.The jury heard that the girl had the bone development of a 5-year-old at the time of her death. One expert said the child's head resembled a skull wrapped in skin.The girl died at home, and police were alerted when the father called the

emergency line to report her death, Australia's Channel 10 news reported.The child's father blamed the mother for the death, saying she was solely responsible for the girl's care.During the trial, the mother told the jury that the idea that her daughter could die "never entered my head." Her lawyer, Dennis , described his client as a prescription drug addict who could not cope with some day-to-day matters.The parents displayed no emotion as they were convicted and remanded in custody.The mother's sentencing hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, while the father's lawyer asked for six weeks to allow for psychiatric reports to be prepared.The couple's three other daughters remain in protective custody. There were no details on their condition when they were taken from their parents.