The shocking murder that took place in the rural community of Gunnedah, in northeastern New South Wales (NSW), may have concluded years ago, but the tragic fragments of the case are currently being pieced together at an ongoing coronial inquest. The victim, 10-year-old Bridgette ‘Biddy’ Porter, was cruelly taken from this world in July 2020 at the hands of a 14-year-old girl. Now, the inquest is focused not only on the truth of that fateful night but also on a haunting, pressing question: Were the mental health red flags of the perpetrator ignored by the adults in her life?

A Heart-Wrenching Tragedy

The perpetrator, referred to only by the pseudonym XR, was found by the NSW Supreme Court not to be legally responsible for her actions due to a diagnosis of schizophrenia. At the hearing, XR’s mother—a woman forced to confront the gravity of her daughter’s crime—expressed profound remorse. She described the incident as “the most heart-wrenching and tragic event” she has ever endured.

In her tearful testimony, she reflected on the immense grief suffered by the victim’s parents: “I can only imagine the grief the parents have suffered in losing their baby girl.” She added, “My heart breaks for them,” and shared her hopes for the proceedings: “Knowing the pain we all suffered for this little girl, I certainly hope the parents find peace and comfort in these proceedings, so that they may start to heal.”

However, when questioned about why she failed to intervene sooner as her daughter began to exhibit aberrant behavior, the mother admitted to a tragic lack of awareness: “My only regret is that I couldn’t get more help for her or have more understanding about mental health.”

“Alarming” Signs Dismissed as Routine

One of the most contentious points raised during the inquest was the incident a year prior to the murder, in which XR killed six chickens on a farm and filmed the act to show her friends. When counsel assisting the coroner, Peggy Dwyer, questioned why no mental health intervention was sought following this event, the mother offered a justification that left many in the courtroom stunned: “They were to be culled, that’s what was happening to them anyway.”

She further elaborated on her mindset at the time: “However, mental health was never on my radar … I never believed in mental health, I didn’t understand mental health. So it didn’t come up to me as something I needed to do.” Even when pressed on whether she considered the animal cruelty a “red flag,” the mother remained defensive: “They were farm animals to be culled. I was upset because that was my job, not hers, she didn’t have permission. I don’t understand why that’s such a big red flag.”

A Darker Landscape in a Teenager’s Mind

Furthermore, the inquest revealed additional distressing details regarding XR’s psychological state. The day before the killing, the teenager had expressed a desire to play a game called “serial killers” with Bridgette. The mother recounted: “She had mentioned, ‘I want to play, let’s play serial killers’, and they didn’t want to.” The mother noted that she instructed her: “I said, don’t call it that, call it tips.”

Additionally, while XR allegedly kept a diary filled with fantasies about killing others and reported hearing voices commanding her to harm her own sister, the mother adamantly denied ever being informed of a letter detailing those plans: “I never heard about the letter … I don’t recall that conversation about a letter.”

Standing before the court, the doctor who consulted with XR’s mother just eight days before the murder expressed his own dismay. He emphasized that animal cruelty is a “very concerning” sign, concluding: “It shows significant psychological distress.” The inquest continues to shed light on the dark corners of adolescent mental healthcare, serving as a sobering reminder of the critical importance of listening to and recognizing the silent pleas for help from children in distress.