Father charged with baby murder
A TEENAGE father from Bundaberg has been charged with the murder of his baby son after giving evidence at a coronial inquest in Rockhampton into the death of the boy two years ago.
After hearing evidence given by the 18-year-old and the baby's mother, the inquest was adjourned so police could re-interview the young dad.
Under a directive from coroner Annette Hennessy, the man, who was 16 at the time of his son's death, cannot be identified and none of his evidence from the inquest could be published.
He was formally charged with murder yesterday afternoon and taken into custody.
The coroner was told in the weeks leading into the baby's death in Bundaberg in late 2010, bruises and evidence of other injuries began to appear on his head and face.
On the night of his death, the baby's mother had gone to the kitchen to prepare a bottle and left the accused to hold his son.
When she returned, the baby had gone limp, had no pulse and wasn't breathing.
The coroner was told the man ran next door to get help from a neighbour while the baby's mother called an ambulance.
After attempts to save him failed, the baby died later that night in Bundaberg Hospital from a subdural haematoma, caused by a head injury.
The teenager will appear in Rockhampton Magistrate's Court this morning.
