WA: Police want public help with death of toddler

AAP General News (Australia)
12-31-2000
WA: Police want public help with death of toddler

PERTH, Dec 31 AAP - Police are investigating the death of a 21-month old boy who died
in suspicious circumstances in Albany, 400km south of Perth.

Police spokesman Inspector Dennis Perich said the boy was taken to Albany Hospital
on Friday with serious injuries and later transferred a Perth hospital where he was placed
on a life support system. He died some time later.

Albany detectives were calling for witnesses who may be able to assist them in the
investigations into the boy's death, he said.

"We believe there may be some suspicious circumstances relating to the death but we
can not give out any details at the moment," Insp Perich said.

"It has been determined that on Friday afternoon, the child with its family of two
adults and two small children, went to the Vital Foods Fishing Spot on Princess Royal
Drive where they were fishing," he said.

Insp Perich refused to comment on the cause of the toddler's death until a post mortem
examination had been carried out but said police did not believe the death was caused
by drowning.

"The boy was taken to Albany hospital with injuries, although what type I do not know,
before being conveyed to Princess Margaret Hospital in Perth where he was put on life
support, which was turned off some time later."

Insp Perich said police were particularly interested in speaking to a driver who gave
a lift to a female and two young children in Princess Royal Drive on Friday afternoon.

AAP ajm/cjh/bwl

KEYWORD: FISHING

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