Mason Lee's stepfather reportedly in protective cell due to fear of attacks in jail
WARNING - GRAPHIC CONTENT: The stepfather of a toddler who died due to alleged child neglect is being held in a protective cell in prison, which he reportedly refuses to leave due to fear of being attacked.
William Andrew O’Sullivan did not front court on Tuesday when the matter was mentioned in Caboolture Magistrates Court.
His co-accused, Mason Lee’s mother, Anne Maree Lee’s case was also due to be heard but neither appeared.
Police allege Lee, O’Sullivan and teenager Ryan Hodson failed to provide adequate medical care for Mason, when he became ill from a ruptured small intestine.
It’s believed the injury was caused by a punch or kick to the toddler’s stomach.
Experts claim it would have taken up to five days for Mason to die.
Protesters crowded outside the courthouse on Tuesday waiting for Lee and O’Sullivan’s day in court.
They carried signs saying “RIP Baby Mason” and “Accountability for Mason”
Lee’s lawyer Brendan Ryan has said she will fight the manslaughter charge as it was “incorrect”.
“The charge of manslaughter is the incorrect charge. I’ll wait until the Director of Public Prosecutions considers the evidence and then I’ll make a submission on the basis of that evidence,” he told media.
The Courier Mail reports Lee is not in a protective jail cell.
Hodson has been granted bail much to the outrage of the community.
Over 4000 people signed a petition to put him back behind bars.
O’Sullivan and Lee will have their matters heard again in September.
Anger over t-shirts sold at court hearing
Supporters who gathered outside a Queensland court in support of toddler Mason Lee are angry at claims a woman tried to make a profit by selling T-shirts at the hearing.
The group says the woman was selling "supporter T-shirts" for $40 outside the Caboolture courthouse where Mason's mother Anne-Maree Lee, his stepfather William O'Sullivan, and stepfather's roomate Ryan Hodson appeared, accused of killing the then-21-month-old.
On what would have been little Mason’s second birthday, Lee's lawyer says she will fight the manslaughter charge after Mason's lifeless body was found riddled with broken bones, ruptured organs and leaked faecal matter.
Despite the tragedy, family and friends of the toddler gathered for a graveside birthday tribute.
“We’re here wishing him a happy birthday here,” Sally Donnelly said.
“He should be with his family blowing out candles on a cake.”
The accused trio appeared in court on Tuesday where it was alleged child protection officers were only a kilometre away from where Mason lay dying at his stepfather's property in June.
Three days before her son's death, welfare officers visited Mason's mother, where she lived several streets away with her four other children.
The officers were told Mason was with his stepfather. He was later found dead on June 11.
Prosecutors allege his mother did nothing to stop Mason's shocking abuse and rarely kept medical appointments for him.
Lee was charged with manslaughter alongside O'Sullivan and 17-year-old Hodson when a Queensland court was told the three allowed the boy to die rather than seek help.
The mother claims she knew nothing about this illness, however text messages were allegedly sent between O'Sullivan and Lee debating who should be the one to take Mason to a doctor.
Mason Lee taken for McDonald's at 3am while suffering illness in days before death
Sickening photo sent to Mason Lee's mother day before toddler tragically died
With Lee and O’Sullivan still in custody, attorney Brendan Ryan was confronted by a group of protesters with placards reading “RIP Baby Mason” outside court on Tuesday.
He said the boy's mother was grieving the loss of her son and should not have been charged with manslaughter.
"She will be fighting the charge of manslaughter," Mr Ryan said.
"The charge of manslaughter is the incorrect charge."
One woman shouted at him, asking: “Is she in protection in the jail system, cause that woman doesn’t need protection.”
Hodson, meantime, was granted bail last Friday after it was ruled he was not at risk of failing to appear in court or interfering with witnesses.
A petition to return Hodson to custody has since garnered thousands of signatures as the community rallies behind little Mason.
According to court documents, some of Mason’s abuse was allegedly caused by Hodson.
“You want to act like a dog? Get on the floor like a dog,” Hodson allegedly told Mason.
“Sleep c**t if you want to cry and yell.”
Supporter Jennifer Hansell said: "We are all concerned - it's not just Mason - this is all in consideration of every Australian baby out there ... We will fight to the end,"
“We just want everyone to know that the community wants changes and accountability."
Investigations are continuing as prosecutors try to find out who inflicted the shocking injuries, including a ruptured small intestine that allegedly led to Mason's death.
Lee has claimed she was in an abusive relationship with O’Sullivan but had planned to leave at the time of Mason's death.
Magistrate Graham Lee said the case against Ms Lee was "very serious" and found there was an unacceptable risk of her not appearing at future court dates.
