A MAN accused of killing a toddler at Singleton more than 17 years ago will plead not guilty and face a trial in Newcastle District Court.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Cecil Patrick Kennedy, now 50 and living in Sydney's west, appeared in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday charged with manslaughter over the death of 21-month-old Jordan Thompson in March, 2005.
Mr Kennedy, who is represented by solicitor Chris O'Brien, will next appear in Newcastle District Court next month when it is expected he will be arraigned, plead not guilty and get a trial date.
Mr Kennedy began a relationship with Jordan's mother, Bernice Swales, in November 2004, a coronial inquest into the boy's death previously heard.
In other news:
It was the afternoon of March 19, 2005 when Ms Swales went to run some errands and left her son in the care of Mr Kennedy.
When she returned home, Jordan was unresponsive.
She rushed him across the road to Singleton Base Hospital, but he could not be resuscitated.
Jordan died as a consequence of Amitriptyline toxicity having been deliberately administered anti-depressant medication by a known person.
- Coroner's findings.
Police were told Jordan had been found face down in the bathtub, but an autopsy later revealed high levels of a prescription medication used to treat depression in his system.
Homicide Squad detectives established Strike Force Kyeama to investigate the circumstances surrounding Jordan's death and coronial inquests were held in 2008 and 2015.
Ultimately, in 2018, the coronial inquest into Jordan's death concluded with Deputy State Coroner Elaine Truscott finding "Jordan died as a consequence of Amitriptyline toxicity having been deliberately administered anti-depressant medication containing Amitriptyline by a known person".
Following further extensive investigations, and the announcement of a $100,000 reward for information, Strike Force Kyeama detectives arrested Mr Kennedy at his home in western Sydney in September last year.
Do you know you can subscribe to get full access to all Maitland Mercury stories? Subscribing supports us in our local news coverage. To subscribe, click here.