The family of a 12-year-old girl who was allegedly bullied at a Sydney private school before taking her own life have broken their silence.
Charlotte, a Year 7 student at Santa Sabina College at Strathfield in the city’s inner-west, took her own life earlier this month.
On Monday, Charlotte’s family spoke out in a statement issued to 2GB host Ben Fordham, demanding the bullying they claim drove their daughter into helpless despair not be swept under the carpet.
‘Hi Ben, earlier this week our family experienced a day that will haunt us for the rest of our lives,’ the statement read.
‘We lost our baby girl in the most awful of circumstances. She was just 12 years old.
‘No words can ever describe what it’s like for us, and it will never be the same again,’ the letter continued.
‘Charlotte has left such a big hole in our lives, and she’s so deeply, deeply missed.
‘The reports you have received are correct. My daughter was bullied by girls that still attend the school today.
‘She wrote a goodbye note specifically mentioning the bullying she received at the school.

Charlotte’s family said they were once asked to pick her up from school because she had been crying in the toilets

Last week 12-year-old Santa Sabina College Year 7 student Charlotte took her life and her family say school bullying drove her to complete
‘She said life was too difficult for her to continue.
‘When the most recent case of bullying was raised, the school simply said it was investigated and the girls denied it. That’s it. Case closed. Move on.
‘Well my beautiful daughter’s life won’t move on and I’ll never get to say goodbye.
‘These issues cannot be swept under the carpet. I will not let my daughter’s memory be swept under the carpet either.
‘How many more children need to lose their lives before they get it? How many parents need to feel the pain of never being able to pick up their child from school again before they get it?
‘We’re broken forever.’
Fordham said the family had told him for two years they had complained about Charlotte being bullied at Santa Sabina College.
The family said on ‘one particular day the school called mum to arrange for Charlotte to be picked up because Charlotte had been crying in the toilets’.
‘She told the girl who found her “I don’t want to be here”. She told her mum “My body fills with pain until my heart explodes”,’ Fordham said.

On the night she died Charlotte sent a friend a photo of herself crying with the simple caption; ‘I am sorry’. Her friend sent a series of increasingly worried messages back
Fordham also interviewed a father whose daughter befriended Charlotte outside of the school she attended in Strathfield.
The dad, who only went by the name of Jason, said his daughter experienced bullying in primary school and this was in part why she bonded with Charlotte, who continually said bullies at her school were making life a living hell.
On the night Charlotte took her life Jason said she sent his daughter a text message and photo.
The photo was of Charlotte crying and the caption read simply: ‘I am sorry.’
Jason’s daughter then sent a series of increasingly pleading replies.
‘Charlotte you are scaring me,’ was the first message.
She then sent: ‘Charlotte? Charlotte? Answer.’