Quentin Corrigan faces court accused of murdering little Ronan Davies

The parents of little Ronan attended the first court hearing of the babysitter accused of his murder – as the man was told he would stay in custody until next year.

The babysitter and alleged murderer of Ronan Davies will spend at least nine months in custody while an expert report is prepared to show “the unlikelihood of his version” of the infant’s death, a court has heard.

Quentin Corrigan, 30, of Glenelg North, faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday following his arrest late on Tuesday night.

Baby Ronan’s parents Glenn Davies and his fiance Melanie Nguyen attended the court building but did not sit in the court room for the brief hearing.

Appearing by video link before a public gallery filled with police and media, Corrigan - wearing handcuffs - listened quietly as his duty solicitor said there would be no bail application.

Melanie Nguyen and Glenn Davies, the parents of 17-month-old Ronan Davies, leave Adelaide Magistrates Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire Emma Brasier

Baby Ronan Davies. Picture: Facebook

The man who was babysitting Ottoway toddler Ronan Davies, when the 17-month-old allegedly sustained critical head injuries. Picture: 7NEWS

A prosecutor asked the court to suppress the identity of a witness who was, he said, “providing ongoing assistance with the investigation”.

He also asked Corrigan be remanded in custody until April next year as inquiries continued.

“There is obviously to be a post-mortem examination in this matter, but even more significant is the report from the treating pediatrician,” he said.

“I’m told her report can take six months or longer because she has to review all the material in this matter.

“She will provide an opinion as to the cause of death and the unlikelihood of the accused’s version of events in this matter being true.”

Magistrate Kim Millard granted both applications and remanded Mr Corrigan in custody until April.

Major Crime detectives believe the boy, also known as “Ro”, was assaulted as the family friends cared for him over two days at their Glenelg North flat, this month.

When his father discovered him unconscious, paramedics rushed him to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital just after 5.30pm on Wednesday, June 7.

He died two days later from critical injuries despite desperate efforts to save him.

In a media interview, prior to his arrest, Mr Corrigan claimed the boy accidentally fell from his pram.

The heavily tattooed man, who has “loyalty” inked on his left cheek, has denied he hurt the boy he “idolised like my own”.

Speaking last week outside his second floor western suburbs apartment as he went to work, Mr Corrigan, a chef originally from NSW, insisted the boy, who he “idolised”, slipped from the pram after he turned away for a split second but was “fine after that”.

His comments came as Ronan’s distraught parents paid an emotional tribute to their toddler son who they said was “perfect in every way”.