A mother accused of falsely claiming her son had cancer sought to raise donations from kind-hearted Aussies and mocked prosecutors who asked she not be released on bail.
Michelle Bodzar and her husband Stephen Miller, both 44, faced the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday via video link from their adjacent police cells.
The couple allegedly shaved their six-year-old’s hair and eyebrows between November 18 and December 12, then wrapped his head in bandages and raised $60,000.
When police prosecutors expressed concern during the hearing that Ms. Bodzar might interfere with the investigation by trying to access her bank or social media accounts, she audibly scoffed, as reported by The advertiser.
Ms. Bodzar’s lawyer said she “strongly disputed” the allegations, while Mr. Miller’s lawyer said he also denied them.
Mr Miller, a former truck driver who switched to an office job after being diagnosed with fibromyalgia, asked to be granted house arrest bail at his parents’ home in Adelaide’s north and banned from contact with his wife or two children.
Magistrate Alison Adair said she would consider the request based on the outcome of a home detention bail report due to be completed next week.
“After reading the charges, it appears that this defendant is less involved in this crime than the other defendant,” she said.
Ben Miller and Michelle Bodzsar (pictured), both 44, were charged with criminal neglect and deception and appeared in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday
Police allege the pair, from Adelaide’s western suburbs, raised $60,000 for the six-year-old’s ongoing “cancer treatments” in two weeks before they were arrested. Pictured is the fundraising page with a photo of their six-year-old son
The magistrate also ordered that the same report be prepared for Ms Bodzar.
However, the mother-of-two will spend Christmas behind bars, with Ms Adair adding that she would not consider posting her bail until January so detectives can continue their investigation unhindered.
Police documents show the couple claimed their son “had cancer, knowing that committing such acts would likely cause him harm,” or that they were “recklessly indifferent to whether such harm was caused.”
“The safety of the complainant (the child) is paramount… it is likely that he believes he has cancer, which will have caused him psychological harm,” prosecutors said.
The couple were each charged with committing an act likely to cause harm, and one of them was charged with deception, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.
An online fundraising post seen by Daily Mail Australia said the couple had had ‘every parent’s nightmare’.
‘Young [boy’s name]eye cancer was diagnosed at the age of 6. It is phase 1,” the fundraising page said.
Lawyers acting for Ms Bodzsar and Mr Miller (pictured together) said they ‘strongly dispute’ the allegations
Acting Deputy Commissioner John DeCandia said their “investigation confirmed that the child is not seeking medical treatment.”
“We believe that this (allegedly) farcical disease causes significant and serious psychological harm to the child and his or her sibling,” he added.
Both the boy and his sister, who is aged between six and 12, have been removed from their parents’ care and are living with a relative.
Miller’s case was adjourned until December 20 and Ms Bodzsar is due back in court on January 6.