Mother of Charlie Nowland wo died of malnutrition pleads guilty to criminal neglect

By ASHLEY NICKEL FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: 14:16 BST, 28 May 2025 | Updated: 14:16 BST, 28 May 2025

The mother of a young girl who died from malnutrition has admitted to criminal neglect after spending three years pleading her innocence.  

Charlie Nowland, six, was found unresponsive at her family’s housing commission home in Munno Para, in Adelaide’s northern suburbs, on July 15, 2022.

Her death was confirmed at Lyell McEwin Hospital with the cause ruled as malnutrition. 

Police conducted an extensive investigation but no criminal charges were laid until April 2023 when Charlie’s mother, Crystal Leanne Hanley, was accused of neglect and manslaughter.

Hanley spent the following two years vehemently denying she neglected her daughter, saying ‘I’m not a perfect mum but I feed my kids’.

However, Hanley broke down in the South Australian Supreme Court on Wednesday as she pleaded guilty to three counts of criminal neglect.

As the 49-year-old sobbed, prosecutors accepted her guilty pleas and withdrew the manslaughter charge against her.

The court heard Hanley had neglected Charlie between April 1, 2022 and July 17, 2022 and committed an offence of criminal neglect where the child died as a result.

Charlie Nowland (pictured) was found unresponsive at her family’s housing commission home in Munno Para on July 15

Charlie’s mother, Crystal Leanne Hanley (pictured outside court on Wednesday), pleaded guilty to three counts of criminal neglect on Wednesday

The court previously hear Charlie’s home (pictured) was ‘squalid’ and ‘uninhabitable for humans’

Hanley was initially released on bail after police charged her in 2023 but she was taken back into custody earlier this following several breaches involving drug use.

In earlier hearings, the prosecution alleged Hanley had raised Charlie in a ‘squalid’ home which was ‘uninhabitable for humans’.

Hanley previously claimed she’d asked family services for more support after her partner was jailed for stabbing her three times, in front of Charlie.

She had to learn how to walk again, was having seizures and struggled to remember how to perform basic tasks like cook rice or drive a car. 

Charlie’s funeral in August 2022 was funded by the South Australian government.

Her white coffin was decorated with the handprints of her siblings, paper red hearts and adorned with colourful flowers and a stuffed monkey. 

Charlie’s father was denied day release for the service and watched via livestream from prison. 

Her ashes were scattered at her favourite camping spot along the Murray River.

Charlie’s (pictured) death was confirmed at Lyell McEwin Hospital with the reason ruled as malnutrition

Defence lawyer, Chris Kummerow, requested a lengthy adjournment to gather information about Hanley’s (left) history as a domestic violence victim

Outside the court on Wednesday, Charlie’s grandmother, Sandra Patrick, was relieved the case would not go to trial.

‘We’re glad it didn’t go to trial, because of the children,’ she told reporters.

‘They don’t need to go through that all over again. They’ve had enough trauma in their lives.

‘They don’t need anymore.’ 

Ms Patrick added she didn’t want to speak about her granddaughter yet as it would ‘bring up too many memories’.

Hanley’s lawyer, Chris Kummerow, requested a lengthy adjournment ahead of her client’s sentencing submissions.

He claimed he would need the time to gather information about Hanley’s history as a domestic violence victim. 

Hanley will remain in custody until her next hearing, set to be held in August.

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Mother of Charlie Nowland wo died of malnutrition pleads guilty to criminal neglect

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