Ecstasy baby couple expecting another child
Peter Michael
December 03, 2009 11:00pm
A FORMER star Australian Rules footballer and his partner who fed ecstasy to a 10-week-old baby are set to bring another life into the world but believe they have become "better parents" in a public shaming.
The Victorian couple admit they nearly killed the little girl, now aged one, when they gave her half an ecstasy tablet during New Year's celebrations in Cairns.
The father, 25, a top country footballer in Victoria, and mother, 23, a childcare worker, yesterday pleaded guilty in Cairns Supreme Court to charges of grievous bodily harm and drug possession.
Justice Stanley Jones, who ordered the pair cannot be named under Queensland law, sentenced them to six months' jail wholly suspended.
"I suspect you have beaten yourselves up much more than I could or would want to," Justice Jones said.
"You have to deal with your own guilt and shame, with the gossip, stares, and negativity."
The young couple, who did not speak publicly, looked relieved as they walked free from court hand-in-hand.
In a letter partly read out by the judge, the pair told of their deep regret.
"The only good thing to come out of this is that we have become better parents," the couple wrote.
"Our girl is our world. And we are more vigilant than ever. Every day we know how lucky we are to have her."
They are expecting their second child, due in February.
DPP prosecutor Jodie Woodridge told the court the parents had been playing "a game of Russian roulette" when they stashed the illicit party pill with the baby's reflux medication. The father unwittingly gave the half pill to the baby, the court heard.
The couple realised their mistake when the infant began suffering seizures, causing her heart to stop.
"It was more good luck than good management each time the correct medication was given," Ms Woodridge said. Ambulance paramedics resuscitated the girl before taking her to Cairns Base Hospital where she was immediately put in an induced coma and treated in intensive care.
The court was told without treatment the child would have likely died or suffered brain damage.
Defence barrister Jim Henry said the parents had sworn off drugs and undergone drug testing and parenting counselling with twice weekly visits from parenting experts.
Outside court, the couple's lawyers read from a statement saying: "They deeply regret this terrible accident ever happened. They are eternally grateful to emergency service staff in Cairns including the ambulance crew and Cairns Base Hospital.
"They are now looking forward to getting on with their lives."