This week, Australian parents were sentenced to life behind bars for severely malnourishing their daughter with a strict diet, apparently to keep her a child forever. A jury found the 47-year-old parents guilty back in November for causing their child to suffer by not providing enough nutrition, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, reports PEOPLE. 

Back in 2021, the 16-year-old girl weighed only 60 pounds and became so malnourished that she needed hospitalization and a feeding tube, reports WA Today. Officials have not revealed the parents’ names because their daughter, who is now 20, was a minor during the crimes. They were also found guilty of neglecting her emotional and social development. The father admitted to forging her birth certificate to make her appear younger.

On Jan. 31, the father received a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence, while the mother was sentenced to five years, according to ABC.net. During the hearing, Judge Linda Black criticized the parents for ignoring medical advice, calling their actions “unfathomable” and stating they prioritized their opinions over their daughter’s needs.

The daughter came to court on Friday to support her parents, who were taken into custody, and she cried at sentencing. 

During the trial, prosecutors explained that the parents dressed and treated their 16-year-old daughter like a preschooler to keep her youthful looking. They homeschooled her, separating her, and when others saw her, they were surprised by her yellow skin and thin appearance. The defense claimed the family has obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Before the sentencing, the daughter wrote to the judge, stating she felt she hadn’t been wronged. Judge Black acknowledged the letter but mentioned the daughter might not fully understand her situation due to her separation. Officials investigated the parents after ballet teachers expressed concern about her appearance.

#Clique, what are your thoughts?