Kiesha’s stepdad admits to manslaughter


AAP

The stepfather of slain six-year-old Sydney girl Kiesha Weippeart has pleaded guilty to her manslaughter, 16 months after she was reported missing.

In Penrith Local Court on Friday, Robert Smith’s lawyer entered guilty pleas on the manslaughter charge and on a charge of being an accessory after the fact of murder.

Magistrate David Day was told the prosecution was withdrawing the murder charge originally levelled against Smith.

The 32-year-old, who was wearing prison greens, appeared via audio-visual link from the jail where he is being held on remand.

In April, Smith and the girl’s mother, Kristi Anne Abrahams, 28, were charged with murdering Kiesha, who had been reported missing from her home at Mt Druitt, in western Sydney, on August 1 last year.

The charges followed the finding of human remains in bushland at Shalvey, near Mt Druitt, on April 22.

The little girl had originally been widely referred to as Kiesha Abrahams, but the court papers name her as Kiesha Weippeart – the surname of her biological father.

Smith has pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing Kiesha on or about July 13 last year at Mt Druitt.

He also has admitted that between July 13 and April 2, knowing that Kristi Anne Abrahams had murdered Kiesha, he “received, harboured, maintained and assisted” her.

Smith was formally refused bail and his sentencing will be mentioned in the Supreme Court on February 3.

The magistrate was told the statement of agreed facts had not been finalised because negotiations were continuing.

He then placed a non-publication order on the current facts.

Abrahams did not appear in court and her murder charge was adjourned to Penrith on March 9.

A small group of people, wearing purple T-shirts bearing Kiesha’s picture and the words “Forever in our hearts”, attended the short hearing.

Outside court, former friend Alison Anderson said Smith should never be released from jail.

She said Kiesha had been stolen from here on Earth, but was still in “our hearts and memories”.

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