Abused WA girl, 11, takes own life after accused man granted bail
An 11-year-old girl who was the victim of repeated sexual abuse has died in hospital on Tuesday following a suicide attempt.
The Noongar child had recently taken part in a video interview with police detailing the abuse she suffered, and was scared to learn her accused rapist had been released on bail.
The girl had recently provided evidence against her alleged sex abuser.
She attempted to take her own life in a WA south west town on Monday. Her family were forced to make the devastating decision to turn her life support off at Perth Children's Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
National Suicide Prevention and Trauma Recovery Project director Gerry Georgatos said around 100 relatives filled the ward and slept in their cars overnight to be with the young girl.
"I've never seen the likes of this before, they came from everywhere," he said.
"The sea of grief, the outpouring and the number of people breaking down was overwhelming.
"Children, youth, elders - it was devastating, even the hospital staff and police in attendance were distressed.
"There's so many fails in what has happened to culminate in the loss of an 11-year-old."
Mr Georgatos, along with his colleague Megan Krakouer and the girl's family, are now fighting for the law to be changed to deny accused repeat child sex abusers bail.
"When you've got an alleged offender who's offended more than one time, then there should be no possibility of bail," Mr Georgatos said.
"By all accounts, everything put to me by the family, they were in fear of this person."
Mr Georgatos has also called for the state government to do more to support families with young children who are homeless, demanding the most vulnerable be prioritised for housing.
Health Minister Roger Cook, during an estimates hearing on Wednesday morning, said the Department of Justice would launch an inquiry into the matter.
"These circumstances lead you to examine not just your services, but your soul, from the point of view of what could we have done or what should have been done to prevent these set of circumstances," he said.
The man accused of abusing the girl, who WAtoday has chosen not to name, is a man in his 60s. He is facing six counts of indecently dealing with a child under 13 and four counts of sexually penetrating a child under 13.
The girl is one of the youngest in Western Australia to die from suicide.
Mr Georgatos said children as young as six from impoverished families were attempting to take their own lives and more support needed to be provided.
"We need to invest in social services to improve the life circumstances of these people," he said.
If you are experiencing mental health issues contact LifeLine WA on 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467, or the Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800.
Heather McNeill is a senior journalist at WAtoday.