In a case that has shaken the Gold Coast community, disturbing details have emerged surrounding the death of 12-year-old Tiffani Scholten, a child with a disability who allegedly died from malnutrition. A recent court hearing has revealed that Tiffani had been kept home from school for an entire term and was reportedly confined for hours inside a dark cupboard before her death.
The Supreme Court in Brisbane heard these revelations during a bail application for Tiffani’s mother, Carrissa Kaye Scholten, who, along with her partner, was arrested last year following a lengthy homicide investigation. Both face murder charges, accused of showing reckless indifference to the girl’s life and failing to provide her with basic necessities.
The court was told there are concerns Scholten may attempt to influence witnesses, particularly her sister, with whom she intends to live if granted bail. However, her legal counsel argued that the sister’s account aligns closely with Scholten’s own and presents a balanced view of Tiffani’s condition noting fluctuations in her weight and health over time.
The case has sparked renewed attention on child welfare and the systems meant to protect vulnerable children. As the investigation continues and the matter moves toward the coroner, the community is left grappling with the haunting question: how could a child slip so far through the cracks?
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