The mother of a 14-year-old girl who killed a 10-year-old child has told an inquest she “didn’t understand mental health” and consulted a naturopath about her daughter’s descent into psychosis.
Background of the Tragedy
Biddy Porter, 10, was killed at a property in rural New South Wales on 8 July 2020. The teenager, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was found not criminally responsible due to mental illness by the NSW Supreme Court in 2021. She remains in custody under the mental health review tribunal.
Teenager's Mental Health Decline
The inquest at Lidcombe coroner’s court heard that the teenager had schizophrenia and was in acute psychosis at the time of the killing. Counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer SC said the teenager likely had delusions and a “loss of contact with reality.” The court also heard of her “disturbing” descent into psychosis, including self-harm, an interest in knives, and a sense of not feeling real.
Two weeks before the killing, the teenager told her mother she thought about killing people “all the time.”
Mother's Response
The mother told the inquest that mental health was “never on my radar” and that she “never believed in mental health.” After the teenager slaughtered six chickens on the family property in June 2019, the mother removed her bedroom door and snapped a video game in half. She did not seek mental health support, instead consulting a naturopath who recommended magnesium for a suspected hormonal imbalance.
“I don’t understand why that was such a big red flag,” the mother said about the chicken slaughter.
The naturopath later suggested the mother consult a doctor after the girl revealed intrusive thoughts about killing people. A GP wrote a referral for a psychiatrist in Sydney, which the mother found in her email spam folder only after the first day of the inquest. One week later, the teenager killed Biddy while the two were left alone in the farm house.
Impact and Aftermath
The mother expressed regret, saying, “My only regret is that I couldn’t get more help for [the teenager] or have more understanding about mental health.” The teenager’s maternal grandmother described the chicken slaughter as a sign of crisis and urged the mother to seek psychiatric help.
Dwyer said the coroners court is not about blame but about learning for families, GPs, and counsellors. The inquest was told that onset of schizophrenia in a young teen is extremely rare.
Support Resources
- In Australia: Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636), Lifeline (13 11 14), Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800)
- In the UK: Mind (0300 123 3393), Childline (0800 1111)
- In the US: Mental Health America (988 or 988lifeline.org)
