6 days ago
Perth mother appears in court after being charged with murdering her seven-month-old baby boy in Balcatta
A mother accused of murdering her seven-month-old baby boy has wept during a brief court appearance in which she was ordered to remain in custody.
WARNING: This story contains details some readers may find distressing.
Jacinta Beth Sells, 31, is charged with murdering her infant son in a Balcatta home in the early hours of Monday morning.
Speaking on Tuesday, WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said it was a confronting scene for first responders.
Ms Sells appeared in court on Wednesday, with Magistrate Sandra De Maio reading out the charge of murder to her, to which she nodded she understood.
She looked down at the floor for much of the brief hearing, and wept towards the end.
Ms Sells is scheduled to appear in Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court next month.
Commissioner Blanch said police will allege the death of the baby was a "family violence incident", and said the scene would likely "haunt" first responders for the rest of their careers.
He said family members were present at the time of the baby's death.
"There was a male, a female and a young person."
"There would be very few cases where you would have a crime scene of such a horrific nature for our officers and for first responders involved," he said.
"It's something that will most likely haunt them for the rest of their careers.
At a media conference on Tuesday morning, WA Premier Roger Cook described the death as "dreadful".
"Our hearts go out to everyone involved in that," he said.
"Obviously, there's family and friends who are impacted by the information that's coming through," he said.
