Dad charged with murdering 3-month-old daughter (Heathcote, Australia)

Dad is identified as JOBY ANTHONY ROWE.

http://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/father-charged-with-murdering-three-month-old-baby-girl-in-heathcote/story-fnii5sms-1227537343106

Father charged with murdering three-month-old baby girl in Heathcote
September 21, 20157:46pm

A man has been charged over the death of a baby in Heathcote last month.

THE father of a three-month-old baby girl has been charged with her murder.

Heathcote man Joby Anthony Rowe, 23, was behind bars Monday night after facing an out-of-sessions court hearing in Bendigo over the murder of daughter Alannah after being the subject of a homicide investigation for almost a month.

Baby Alannah, who was born premature, was rushed to hospital on August 29 after a call to triple-0. Alannah died the following day at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

It was reported at the time Mr Rowe had told friends Alannah had started coughing “hard’’ as he fed her a bottle just after she had woken.

It’s understood the baby’s mother, Stephanie Knibbs, heard the commotion and came running to help and they laid Alannah on the ground and tried to clear her airways.

The results of a post-­mortem is believed to have directed the investigation into the little girl’s suspicious death.

Ms Knibbs spoke to police about the events leading up to the triple-0 call and police also appealed for other people with information to come forward.

Mr Rowe, who was questioned and released by police last month, is set to appear at Bendigo Magistrates’ Court Tuesday morning.

It came as police revealed no charges would be laid over the death of another baby at Hamilton on July 13.

Emergency services had been called to a house in Strachan St after receiving a report of a seriously ill child.

The 11-month-old boy was taken to Hamilton Hospital where he later died.

Investigators said they had spoken to a number of people in relation to the death and a post-mortem was conducted.

The death will now be the subject of a Coronial investigation.