Nappy infested with roaches, Court hears

Press, 12 August 1986, Page 10

Nappy infested with roaches, Court hears

NZPA-AAP Sydney A Sydney Court has been told that a couple neglected to change their two-year-old son’s nappy for so long that cockroaches had infested the material and his stomach was badly scalded. Robyn Francis Cappetti, aged 41, and her husband, Donald Richard Cappetti, aged 39, of Werrington, appeared in Penrith Local Court, charged with three counts each ,of inflicting grievous bodjly harm on two of their children, David, aged 2, and Darren, 4.

Mrs Cappetti buried her face in her hands as the Court heard that Darren had slept in the kitchen on a dirty piece- of foam unfit for a pig. A i It was alleged that he was tied by rope to the back door of the family’s house so that he could not get to the fridge or cupboards.

There was graphic evidence of severe rope burns, of his napkin rarely being changed, and

that he had. been fed only occasionally. Both children. weighed less than 12kg and David also had gangrene in his toes.

Sergeant John King told the Court that both parents had wanted their youngest children to be girls, and Mrs Cappetti in particular had been unable to cope with boys. The magistrate remanded the couple in custody for a hearing at Penrith on September 9. _■? A Nepean Hospital spokeswoman yesterday described the condition of David, Darren and another son, Brett, aged 7, as satisfactory. The boys were suffering from' malnutrition and would be kept at the hospital for several days.: The spokeswoman said David was suffering from a bad nappy rash, while Darren had severe bruising to the head, chest and hand.

It now appeared not necessary to amputate some of Darren’s toes, she said.