The grieving parents of an unborn baby who suffered a horrific accident have called on the Victorian government to recognize him as a person.
Elodie and Andrew Aldridge, speaking outside the court this week, protested that their son Remi was not considered a person in the eyes of the law when he died at 34 weeks.
“My son was basically nothing in the eyes of the law,” Mrs. Aldridge said.
The driver responsible for the killing, Chrystle Olivia Kemp, 26, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and serious injury in the three-car crash that hit an intersection east of Shepparton in October last year.
But the charge of causing death relates to the death of Kemp’s five-year-old niece, Savannah, who was a passenger in Kemp’s vehicle and suffered catastrophic injuries to her chest, legs and neck.
The charge of causing grievous bodily harm relates to Elodie, who was pregnant with Remi at the time.
Elodie suffered serious injuries to her hip and abdomen and was taken by paramedics to Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, where Remi was stillborn.
Her husband held Remi in his arms after the tragedy.
Elodie and Andrew Aldridge have called for the state government to recognize their dead son, Remi, as a person.
Chrystle Olivia Kemp has pleaded guilty to charges relating to the Shepparton crash.
‘I held it. He was a little boy. “It was a boy,” Mr Aldridge said.
“But in the eyes of the law, it was a fetus and an injury to my wife.”
Mrs Aldridge still gets around with crutches and is awaiting a hip replacement a year after the accident.
She and her husband are calling for a change in state law to recognize Remi.
“It’s too late for us, but if we can change so other families don’t go through the same thing, we will fight for it,” Mrs Aldridge said.
Her husband came out to plead with Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan.
‘Are you going to kiss your children tonight? Because we’re not,” Mr. Aldridge said.
‘If New South Wales can do it, if Queensland can do it, why can’t we?’
The issue intersects with abortion law in Victoria and the government has warned that recognition could affect women’s rights to access abortion.
‘A pregnant woman or person can access abortion up to a gestational limit of 24 weeks,’ the Victorian Department of Health website states.
‘Beyond 24 weeks, a doctor may perform an abortion if another doctor agrees that the abortion is appropriate in all the circumstances.
Surgical abortions can be performed up to 24 weeks and “in certain circumstances beyond,” the department adds.
Kemp’s plea was adjourned until November 20 and his bail was extended until that date.