Humpty Doo childcare centre admits guilt in supervision breach before death
The centre and nominated supervisor pleaded guilty to inadequate supervision and protection following 22-month-old Ebony Thompson's death in August 2023.
Humpty Doo Community & Child Care Centre pleaded guilty in Darwin Local Court to failing to supervise children and failing to protect them from harm. Supervisor Casandra Harris also pleaded guilty to failing to protect children from harm.
Harris was listed as the nominated supervisor that day but was not scheduled to work. The child, Ebony Thompson, went unsupervised for about 10 minutes in August 2023.
She was found unconscious and trapped by her neck in a low fence in a blind spot. One worker's charges were dropped.
The centre's director, Rachel Marsh, is contesting the same charges and will return to court next month. Sentencing for the centre and Harris is set for next month.
This is the first time such charges have been brought in the Northern Territory.
- 22 months old
- Child's age
- About 10 minutes, from 11:32am to 11:41am
- Unsupervised duration
- Northern Territory
- First prosecution
Why it mattersThe guilty pleas establish responsibility for a death that might have been prevented through proper supervision, setting a precedent for childcare accountability in the NT.
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