A 2-year old girl Tanilla Warrick-Deaves was murdered in her
mother’s home in Australia, in 2011 for being too slow at toilet training.
Tanilla was murdered by 30-year old Warren James Ross, her mother’s boyfriend, who
became frustrated that she was not toilet-trained.
Tanilla's father and his partner during one of the trials
The girl’s father, Adrian Warrick, who has Tanilla’s name tattooed on his arm told the NSW Supreme Court he had gone through ‘every parent’s worst nightmare’ and he could not understand why Ross abused his daughter because she was not toilet trained as quickly as he wanted.
On this particular day, he kept beating her and he
repeatedly banged her head on a glass shower screen and cupboard door to make
himself feel better, while her mom watched.
The beatings were so severe that she lay unconscious in a
pram for two days until she eventually stopped breathing, daily mail reports.
After a long trial, Tanilla’s mom was found guilty last year
of manslaughter for refusing to stop her boyfriend from beating her daughter or
calling for medical help. She was sentenced to 12years in prison, which was
reduced to nine years after she agreed to give testimony against Ross, her
former boyfriend.
During Ross’s trial, he remained rude and threatened people
in court including using offensive language towards members of the media.
When the jury delivered the guilty verdict he yelled: ‘It’s not over,’ before
breaking down in tears.
He was in court again this week as those close to Tanilla
read victim impact statements to the judge before sentencing.
The girl’s father, Adrian Warrick, who has Tanilla’s name tattooed on his arm told the NSW Supreme Court he had gone through ‘every parent’s worst nightmare’ and he could not understand why Ross abused his daughter because she was not toilet trained as quickly as he wanted.
‘Why was it so important to punish her so harsh that it took
her life?
‘I can only imagine what Tanilla went through and the fear
she faced through her ... ordeal.’
‘What did she do so bad that gave you the right to hurt
Tanilla? None whatsoever. She was a defenceless child, I hope that Ross would
never be released. That's what my daughter deserves. Any child does. For what
she had to go through, such a person doesn't deserve to see the light of day in
my eyes’, he said.
Sentencing will continue in May.
