EXCLUSIVE
The devastated family of a feared girl have spoken out after the former X Factor star accused of murdering her dropped charges against him.
Harper-Gaynor Morris was nine months old when she was found unconscious and died on July 23, 2018 at a home in Binnaway, mid-west NSW.
After a five-year police investigation, her former stepfather Mitchell David Callaway, 39, was arrested in June 2023 and charged with murder in connection with domestic violence.
But almost 18 months after legal proceedings began, prosecutors formally withdrew charges against Callaway at Dubbo Local Court on Thursday.
Hours later, a devastated family member spoke out to condemn the outcome.
“F***ing bulls***,” they wrote.
“Our dear Harper, still no justice.”
Now that charges against Callaway have been dropped, Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Callaway has a history of domestic violence.
Harper Gaynor-Morris (pictured) died in July 2018 in central west NSW
Last week, prosecutors dropped one murder charge against her former stepfather, Mitchell David Callaway, 39, (pictured), who was a former contestant on X Factor
In October 2018, just months after Harper’s death, her mother – who Daily Mail Australia has declined to name – obtained an AVO against Callaway.
Under the two-year order, Callaway was prohibited from assaulting, threatening, stalking, harassing, intimidating or contacting Harper’s mother and destroying property belonging to her.
Two weeks later, Callaway was charged with breaching the AVO. That charge was dismissed on the condition that he adhere to a mental health treatment plan and consult with an appropriate psychologist and psychiatrist.
In September of that year, Callaway was also convicted of possession of an unauthorized firearm and discharging a gun in or near a public place.
He was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order for firearms offences.
Over the next four years, Callaway remained out of court until he was arrested at a house in Bowraville, in the north coast hinterland, in June last year.
The development came after a coronial inquest between December 2022 and April 2023 found evidence linking Callaway to Harper’s death, leading police to issue a warrant for Binnaway’s arrest in May 2023.
At the time of the arrest, Harper’s mother said the development in the case was the “best news ever” after “all these years of pain, suffering and grief.”
Harper is remembered by loved ones as the “definition of perfect” and “the happiest” baby
Callaway was arrested at a house in Bowraville, central west NSW, on June 8 last year
“She is the reason I kept fighting, living and making it this far,” the mother said in a statement.
“Not a day goes by that I don’t miss you and wish you were here. This won’t bring you back, but it will bring you some peace and the justice you deserve. Forever my little girl.
“Mommy loves you.”
Callaway had been babysitting Harper when her mother arrived at the house and found her unconscious.
Paramedics rushed the little girl to Coonabarabran Hospital where she died a short time later.
Medical evidence presented in court showed Harper suffered significant injuries to her head, including a skull fracture.
However, the exact cause of Harper’s death and when she suffered her injuries remains unknown.
Callaway’s attorney argued that there was no evidence to link her injuries to the cardiac arrest and that the fractures may have occurred up to a week before her death.
The court also heard that Callaway told Harper’s mother in November 2018 that he “didn’t mean to hurt her.”
However, Callaway’s attorney argued that the alleged confession was “ambiguous” and that there was “a dispute about what was said.”
Callaway spent six months in custody before being released on bail in December 2018 under a $600,000 bond.
Under the circumstances, he had to live at his parents’ house in Bowraville, surrender his passport and adhere to a curfew.
The court previously heard that Callaway, who is currently in remission from cancer, was abused by locals after his release from prison.
The country singer took part in series three of The X-Factor Australia in 2011, when he came seventh.
His season was won by then-teenage star Reece Mastin.