A 30-year-old man from the Sunshine Coast has been charged with grievous bodily harm after a nine-week-old infant was admitted to intensive care with life-threatening injuries. The baby boy was taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital just before midnight on April 24 and was immediately placed in the intensive care unit.
Details of the Injuries
Police allege the child suffered extensive brain and optical trauma, as well as multiple fractures. The severity of the injuries prompted an investigation by detectives from the Sunshine Coast Child Protection and Investigations Unit and the Child Trauma Unit.
Investigation and Arrest
Detectives conducted extensive enquiries over a six-week period, examining the time from the child's birth until his hospitalisation. On Saturday afternoon, a 30-year-old man from Currimundi, known to the child, was arrested at Warana. He has been charged with one count of grievous bodily harm, classified as a domestic violence offence against a child.
The man was refused bail and is scheduled to appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday, June 8. The case has drawn attention to the ongoing issue of child abuse and the importance of child protection services.
