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AAP
AAP
Alex Mitchell

Former X-Factor contestant has murder charge withdrawn

A charge of murdering a baby was dropped against former X-Factor contestant Mitchell Callaway (r). (Marianna Massey/AAP PHOTOS)

A former X-Factor contestant who had been accused of killing a baby girl has had a murder charge against him withdrawn.

Mitchell David Callaway, 39, was arrested and charged with the single count of domestic violence-related murder in June 2023 after a five-year police investigation.

On July 23, 2018, a nine-month-old girl was found unresponsive in a home at Binnaway, south of Coonabarabran in central-west NSW.

Paramedics took the baby to Coonabarabran Hospital, where she died a short time later.

Mitchell David Callaway
The murder charge against Mitchell Callaway was dropped some six years after his arrest. (HANDOUT/NSW POLICE)

Mr Callaway was arrested at a home at Bowraville in the mid north coast hinterland, after police executed a warrant at Binnaway the month before.

But the prosecutors formally withdrew the charge at Dubbo Local Court on Thursday, nearly 18 months after the court proceedings were launched.

Mr Callaway had previously been granted bail and did not appear at the court in person.

The country singer competed in series three of The X-Factor Australia in 2011, when he placed seventh.

His season was won by then-teen star Reece Mastin.

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