12-year-old girl from Perth could be charged for 'illegal' pregnancy along with baby's underage father
The young girl went into labor at a Perth home before she was transferred to King Edward Memorial Hospital with her healthy child earlier this month
A 12-year-old girl, who gave birth at home in Western Australia, could be charged for the pregnancy along with her baby's father since both are underage for sexual consent.
Youth Legal Service WA solicitor Sally Dechow said charges could be brought against the pair as their conception is considered illegal under state law. "Legally they could both be charged, but in practice, we’ve found it’s usually the boy who is charged. You have to look at the welfare of these kids and whether it’s in the public interest to prosecute children of this age," she said in a report by The West.
The young girl went into labor at a Perth home before she was transferred to King Edward Memorial Hospital with her healthy child earlier this month.