Wednesday 16 November 2022 06:50 AM Welfare checks launched for 500 kids after Charlie, six, dying of malnutrition ... trends now
Six-year-old Adelaide girl Charlie died four months ago of suspected malnutrition
The mother of a six-year-old girl who died of suspected malnutrition after being found unconscious in her Adelaide home has pleaded with police to arrest her or close the case.
Little Charlie, from Munno Para in the city's northern suburbs, died four months ago and police opened an investigation into criminal neglect.
Crystal Hanley has now revealed she has been abused by strangers since her daughter's death and called on police to act.
'I've been hit, kicked, punched, drinks thrown at me, spat on, called a murderer,' Ms Hanley told Seven News.
'I don't know what is going on. If you're going to charge me just do it.'
Charlie's death sparked a review of South Australia's child protection system which found 500 children were now living in high-risk situations.
South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said on Wednesday that welfare checks had begun on those 500 boys and girls across the state.
'It's difficult to know how long they'll take,' Mr Stevens said. 'Obviously this is being dealt with as a priority.'
The mother of a six-year-old girl who died of suspected malnutrition in her Adelaide home has pleaded with police to arrest her or close the case. Crystal Hanley says she has been abused by strangers since her daughter's death
Little Charlie was living with her mother and siblings at this house at Munno Para in Adelaide's northern suburbs. Police opened an investigation into criminal neglect
Mr Stevens said Premier Peter Malinauskas had asked police to provide an independent co-ordinator to manage the daunting task.
'We're working very closely with the Department for Child Protection and Department for Human Services,' Mr Stevens said.
'They're going to be coordinating the teams that will be doing these checks on the ground and we'll oversight that role.
'It will take as long as it takes but the hope is that we can chew through this as quickly as possible so that we can provide advice back to the Premier that those children identified through the analysis are OK.'
Court documents have revealed authorities allowed Charlie to stay at home despite being exposed to drug abuse and
