A 45-year-old Riverview man has been sentenced to eight and a half years in prison following the tragic death of an eight-month-old baby in his care during 2019.
Andrew William Campbell appeared before Brisbane Supreme Court this week where Justice Catherine Muir handed down the sentence for manslaughter. Campbell will be eligible for parole in one year, with time already served taken into account.
The court heard devastating details about the death of baby Dexter, who died from severe neglect at a home in nearby Ipswich during June 2019. Campbell had been living with the child’s mother, Natalie Jade Whitehead, for approximately one month before the tragedy occurred.
Justice Muir described the circumstances as “tragic and utterly heartbreaking” during the sentencing hearing. The court was told that both Campbell and Whitehead had been using illegal drugs for several days prior to the infant’s death, during which time they failed to provide basic care for the child.
Medical evidence presented to the court indicated that Dexter suffered from acute dehydration and malnutrition in the period leading up to his death. The specialist paediatrician’s report suggested the baby’s final hours would have been extremely distressing.
Crown prosecutor Matt Le Grand told the court that in the 21 hours before Dexter’s death, the infant had been left in a cot with only a single bottle. The baby was also found to be suffering from severe nappy rash and associated injuries.
Just five days before his death, extended family members had reported that Dexter appeared healthy and well-nourished, highlighting the rapid deterioration in his condition.
When emergency services were called on the evening of 21 June 2019, paramedics found the Riverview home in poor condition. Despite attempts to resuscitate Dexter, he had already been deceased for several hours.
The court heard that Campbell had refused to perform CPR when emergency responders requested assistance. Prior to their arrival, he had disposed of evidence including soiled baby clothes and drug-related items at a neighbour’s property.
Justice Muir noted that Campbell had taken on a parenting role when he moved in with Whitehead, creating a legal duty of care towards the infant. She emphasised that he had been aware the child was not receiving proper care but had prioritised his drug use over the baby’s welfare.
The judge found little evidence of genuine remorse from Campbell, despite his guilty plea to manslaughter charges. Both Campbell and Whitehead had initially been charged with murder before the charges were downgraded.
Campbell’s defence counsel explained that his client had struggled with substance abuse from a young age, beginning with heroin as a teenager and progressing to methamphetamine use while working as a truck driver from 2017.
The court was told that since being granted bail in mid-2023, Campbell had made no efforts to seek drug rehabilitation treatment.
Whitehead had previously been sentenced to nine years imprisonment for her role in Dexter’s death.
The case has highlighted ongoing concerns about child protection and the devastating impact of drug abuse on vulnerable families in the local community.
Campbell’s sentence includes credit for 898 days already served in custody while awaiting trial.
Published 11-September-2025
