Kerrod James Frahm to stand trial on manslaughter charge

A Queensland boy who died after being bitten by a snake had been suspected of stealing alcohol before he was found unresponsive the next morning by his dad, who now faces a trial over his son’s death.

Kerrod James Frahm, 32, is charged with manslaughter over the November 2021 death of his son, Tristian, 11, while staying at a friend’s property.Â

A Murgon father charged over the death of his son from a snake bite yelled ‘I think he’s f---ing dead’ after finding him unresponsive the next morning, a court heard.

Kerrod James Frahm, 32, was ordered to stand trial after evidence from three witnesses was heard during a committal hearing in Kingaroy Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Mr Frahm is charged with manslaughter over the November 2021 death of his son, Tristian, 11, while staying at a friend’s property. The prosecution alleges Mr Frahm failed to seek medical attention.

The witnesses called to give evidence in Wednesday’s committal included Dr Mark Little, an emergency medicine specialist and clinical toxicologist.

Two people who were at the property on the day of the incident, Rachelle Dorman and Jacob Bryant, also testified.

Tristian Frahm 11-year-old boy died after he was bitten by a snake while he and his father, Kerrod Frahm, 31, were at a friend’s property on November 20 last year.

Mr Bryant and Ms Dorman both testified they were alerted by two other boys on the property who said Tristian was sitting down in a field and had told them he had been bitten by a snake.

One of the boys said there was no snake, that it was “only a stick”, the court heard.

It heard Mr Frahm drove the lawnmower to Tristian’s location and brought him back.

All three adults, including Mr Frahm, then checked Tristian’s legs, ankles and upper body for a snake bite, the court heard.

Mr Bryant said the three of them had an “open conversation” and agreed they could not see any marks on Tristian.

“I couldn’t see any blood, I couldn’t see any bite marks,” Mr Bryant said.

Kerrod James Frahm, who is charged with manslaughter over the death of his 11-year-old son Tristian from a snakebite in November 2021, has been ordered to stand trial during a committal hearing today.

When asked if he recalled Tristian saying anything about being bitten, Mr Bryant said “no”.

“He didn’t say anything at all,” Mr Bryant said.

The court heard one of the children suggested Tristian may have been intoxicated as they had “stolen” some alcohol.

After hearing this, it is alleged Mr Frahm sent Tristian to his room.

Ms Dorman testified she had seen Tristian throughout the night and he seemed “fine”.

“He was walking around and laughing … He seemed perfectly fine,” she said.

Kerrod James Frahm, who is charged with manslaughter over the death of his 11-year-old son Tristian from a snakebite in November 2021, has been ordered to stand trial during a committal hearing today.

She said she woke during the night and walked past Tristian, who was sitting in the doorway.

“He just waved … he seemed perfectly fine,” she said.

However, she said one of the other boys woke her up during the night and told her Tristian was vomiting. She told him to give Tristian a glass of water and she went back to sleep, the court heard.

“I thought that it was from the alcohol he had stolen,” she said.

The court heard Mr Bryant said when Mr Frahm found Tristian unresponsive the next morning, he yelled:

“No way, what the f--k? No f---ing way. I think he’s f---ing dead.”

Dr Little who testified via phone, said it was possible there were no symptoms in the lead-up to Tristian’s death and although unusual, the timeline provided was also possible.

In his ruling, magistrate Andrew Sinclair, referred to section 286 of the criminal code, which states that the duty of a person who has care of a child must:

(a) provide the necessaries of life for the child; and

(b) take the precautions that are reasonable in all the circumstances to avoid danger to the child’s life, health or safety; and

(c) take the action that is reasonable in all the circumstances to remove the child from any such danger

and he or she is held to have caused any consequences that result to the life and health of the child because of any omission to perform that duty, whether the child is helpless or not.

Mr Sinclair said it must be up to a jury to decide if Mr Frahm was reasonable in his duty of care.

“The question is whether he’s complied with the duty of care,” he said.

“I am satisfied that the matter needs to go to a trial.”

Originally published as Kerrod James Frahm to stand trial on manslaughter charge