William Tyrrell’s former adoptive parents have lodged an appeal over his convictions and the severity of the sentence imposed for the assault and bullying of another child in their care.
Lawyers for one of the parents appeared in Sydney’s Downing Center District Court on Wednesday about two and a half months after both were sentenced by a local court magistrate.
The pair, who cannot be legally named or named, were found to have bullied a boy other than William on separate occasions.
The mother’s threats to slap the boy on two occasions were considered intimidation, magistrate Susan McIntyre found in March.
The woman was heard telling the boy: “I shouldn’t have to go to the point of threatening to hurt you because it’s a huge problem.”
William Tyrrell’s adoptive parents, who cannot be identified for legal reasons
A million dollar reward remains for information on the disappearance of William Tyrrell
He previously pleaded guilty to two counts of assault after hitting the boy with a wooden spoon and kicking his thigh.
The adoptive father was also convicted of bullying the boy on one occasion while driving to school, when the young man was heard crying and sobbing.
Prosecutors relied on more than 1,000 hours of covert recordings made in the couple’s home and vehicles over 14 months in 2020 and 2021.
The recordings were made by detectives investigating the disappearance of three-year-old William, who disappeared while playing at his adoptive grandmother’s house in Kendall, on the New South Wales north coast, on September 12, 2014.
McIntyre acquitted the adoptive mother of five counts of intimidation and dismissed a charge of child assault against the adoptive father.
The couple were convicted and given 12-month good behavior bonds.
They will next appear for a brief mention at Downing Center District Court on June 25.
Police investigations into whether the adoptive mother was involved in William’s disappearance have been paused until the investigation into the boy’s death resumes.
Investigators had provided a report to prosecutors to consider possible charges against the woman, who they believed may have disposed of William’s body after his accidental death.
She has always denied having anything to do with William’s disappearance.
No one has been charged in the case and a $1 million reward for information remains in place.
