The father took to the stand in Perth District Court on Wednesday as the parents’ defence team opened their case.
He told the jury the girl came from a family of small, thin people – noting he weighed 54 kilograms at 169 centimetres tall.
The jury was also told he suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder, and struggled with anxiety and obsessive compulsive thoughts around cleanliness.
He claimed his daughter had difficulty around feeding as a baby and a small child, which was monitored by paediatricians and gastroenterologists.
He said the girl was homeschooled because she showed “incredible talent” for music, and he and his wife bought her a $9500 pink baby grand piano for her seventh birthday.
Department of Education moderation reports were also shown to the jury, describing the girl’s academic abilities as “impressive” and stating that “community and social connections remain strong”.
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The father also told the jury it was the girl’s decision to become first vegetarian and then vegan, but said she had always been “a fussy eater”.
He also said she ate three meals a day plus snacks, and her favourite food was pasta.
The father said there was no calorie-counting in the house, no weight scales, and the girld had a daily intake of nine different vitamins.
The man added that he never saw the girl watch preschool television shows, that she dressed in whatever she chose to, had a mobile phone with regular contact with friends, and had no assistance brushing her teeth, showering or getting dressed.
He told the court it was “an unbelievable suggestion” that his daughter could not cross a street alone, and claimed her favourite TV shows included Married at First Sight, The Voice, Lego Masters, My Kitchen Rules and Masterchef.
He also told the jury his daughter had taken piano lessons with a classical pianist from the age of 11 and was now studying classical music at WAAPA.
The trial continues.
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