Video emerges of Townsville toddler Penelope Campbell’s funeral as parents charged over her death

Beside herself with grief, the footage shows a distraught mother saying a final goodbye to her three-year-old daughter Penelope, a single rainbow teddy bear perched on her coffin.

Seven months later, Breannon Campbell, 24, and her husband, Jack Campbell, 25, were charged in her death, allegedly for having neglected the child, who suffered from an incurable condition similar to diabetes.

The couple are accused of failing to provide care for Penelope, who died at Townsville University Hospital on July 7 last year, with mourners saying goodbye dressed in green, believed to be her favorite color some 20 days later. .

The boy lived with an inherited disorder known as medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, or MCADD, a condition in which patients struggle to break down fat and have low blood sugar levels.

The video shows mourners gathered in the chapel of Woongarra crematorium, in the suburb of Julago, to say goodbye to the “brave, fearless and loving” girl.

Video from the service obtained by shows Ms Campbell being comforted by her sister as they gaze at a photo of Penelope placed on top of her little white coffin.

Delivering their eulogy, the three-year-old’s aunts fought back tears as they recalled how the girl was “thriving” despite her condition and “never considered herself different from others.”

“Child, now you can rest in peace,” said her aunt.

And know that we are all here to live every day in your name.

Queensland Police will claim that Penelope’s condition was entirely treatable and that her death was the result of neglect.

“This was a fully survivable medical condition,” Detective Sergeant Major David Miles told reporters.

‘Our case is that this child should not have died from this condition [and] this is a case of neglect by the family.’

Sergeant Major Miles said the girl had a “very detailed treatment plan” that had to be followed in certain circumstances.

“There was a whole range of medical professionals that the family could access,” he said.

“This happened on several occasions and the parents responded appropriately, on this occasion however they have not and the child deteriorated within a 24 hour period resulting in the death of the child,” he stated.

Days before the couple were arrested earlier this week, Ms Campbell wrote a heartfelt post thanking her followers for “sticking with her through the most difficult year of her life.”

On January 9, Ms. Campbell, who runs a photography business, announced that she would begin accepting bookings for the year in the coming weeks and thanked supporters for their support.

‘MCAD was the reason I started this business. My daughter was diagnosed at five days old,’ she said.

“I would like to thank everyone for sticking with me through the most difficult year of my life.”

The announcement came two months after she told her Instagram followers that she would return to work in 2023 and start a new foundation in her daughter’s honor.

“My husband and I are taking it day by day, but we are thankful for our other two children,” she wrote in November.

‘Every photo shoot I do for the next year, half of my proceeds still go to the MCADD foundation. This foundation will be new, the ribbon is in honor of my daughter Penelope.

‘Penelope lost her battle against MCADD at just 3 years old, but thanks to the support of my family, friends and community, we’ve gotten through this well. This foundation will help other families like mine.’

Ms. Campbell also runs a bakery business and is employed as a part-time special needs teacher’s aide, while her husband of five years works in the garden.

The couple, charged with manslaughter, will face Townsville Magistrates Court in February.