Andrew William Campbell, aged 45, has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of eight-month-old Dexter Wilton in a Queensland Supreme Court proceeding. Campbell originally faced a seven-day trial but opted to enter a guilty plea before the court session progress. Following his plea, he left the courthouse swiftly, avoiding the media awaiting outside.
The tragic circumstances surrounding Dexter’s death emerged when prosecutors revealed that Campbell failed to provide adequate care, leaving the infant and another child unattended for more than 21 hours in a unit located in Ipswich. In a related case, Dexter’s mother, Natalie Jade Whitehead, 38, had already pleaded guilty to manslaughter, neglect, and failing to meet the basic life necessities for her child.
Crown prosecutor Matt Le Grand described the last hours of Dexter’s life as extremely distressing, both physically and emotionally, and the baby’s body was discovered by paramedics on June 21, 2019, at a Raceview residence where Campbell resided during the incident.
In court, Campbell acknowledged his guilt regarding Dexter’s manslaughter. Additionally, he admitted to a negligent act resulting in harm to another infant between June 16 and 22, 2019. One charge related to the interference with a corpse was dropped by the prosecution.
During the proceedings, Campbell’s defence lawyer, Damian Walsh, opted to defer sentencing, indicating he intended to present psychological evidence for the court’s consideration. Justice Glenn Martin approved the continuation of Campbell’s bail, scheduling a review for March 26 to examine the psychological materials.
In a separate outcome from the same case, Whitehead was sentenced to nine years in prison in October, yet she will be eligible for parole as early as June due to the time already served prior to her sentencing.