Twist in cops’ baby death probe
Police have revealed what led to the shocking arrest of a woman more than a decade after a three-month-old was found unresponsive at a property southeast of Brisbane.
The update follows new information being received by police in January, leading to the investigation into the girl’s 2011 death being relaunched.
That year, emergency services were called to the Redland Bay address on September 2, following reports of a baby girl not breathing.
The infant was rushed to Redland Bay Hospital and later Mater Children’s Hospital in Brisbane.
She died four days later on September 6.
More than a decade later, police announced on Saturday they had arrested a 30-year-old Kingston woman over the child’s death.
The woman – who was just 17 at the time – was charged with domestic violence-related murder.
She was refused bail to appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday.
Queensland Police Detective Inspector Paul Dalton said police at the time of the death did not have evidence of foul play.
That changed in January when detectives received “new and credible information” from a community source.
“It’s very challenging, (we’re) essentially starting from the start,” Inspector Dalton said.
“(The family) had to deal with the death of a child 12 years ago, which I can only imagine would have been horrific.
“Then, for detectives to come and tell them later that we think their child had been murdered and that someone is responsible … I can only imagine.”
Inspector Dalton would not confirm the relationship between the woman and the infant, noting only it was a “familial relationship”.
He said detectives would have to consider whether the woman, who was 17-years-old at the time, would be tried as a minor.
While the infant’s death was investigated at the time, the status of the investigation had been left undetermined and a coronial finding remained open.
In a statement, a Queensland Police spokesperson said officers received new information about the matter and as a result relaunched its investigation.
The investigation involved officers attached to the Bayside Child Protection Investigation Unit and the Crime and Intelligence Command Child Trauma Unit.
