A former X Factor contestant has been charged with the murder of a nine-month-old baby following a five-year police investigation.
Mitchell Callaway, 37, who appeared on the Australian version of the show, was pictured being led from a home in Bowraville, New South Wales on Thursday morning following his arrest before he was later charged with the murder of the baby girl at Macksville Police Station.
Emergency services had been called to a home in Binnaway on July 23, 2018 at around 10am after reports of an unresponsive baby girl. The child was taken to Coonabarabran Hospital and, despite the efforts of medical staff, she died a short time later.
Detectives from Orana Mid-Western Police District have been investigating the circumstances surrounding the girl’s death under Strike Force King, reports the Mirror.
Officers received new information which led to the force executing a search warrant at a home in Binnaway on May 31. Further inquiries led to detectives arresting and charging Callaway on Thursday, June 8 at 9:45 am.
The former X Factor star has been refused bail and is due at Macksville Local Court on Thursday, after appearing briefly in Macksville Local Court on Thursday on one count of murder.
He will next appear before Coffs Harbour local court on Tuesday.
The singer appeared in season three of X Factor Australia back in 2011 where he made up part of the Over 25s category and was mentored by Natalie Bassingthwaighte.
Mitchell Callaway was eliminated from the competition in Week six, finishing in 7th place after losing the sing-off to Johnny Ruffo.
He auditioned for the show with Keith Urban's song Tonight I Wanna Cry.
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