Dad pleads guilty to baby river death

UPDATE: A Logan father who killed his six-month-old son by releasing him into the Logan River has been sent to jail.

Police at Eagleby investigate the case in 2012. Pic: Annette Dew

A LOGAN father who killed his six-month-old son by releasing him into the Logan River has been sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in jail.

David Fisher, 42, pleaded guilty to one charge of manslaughter and was sentenced in the Brisbane Supreme Court today.

Justice Anne Lyons said Fisher suffered from a psychotic disorder and took drugs before he plunged into the Logan River with his son Elijah on June 23, 2012.

“Your son was vulnerable and at his age of six months he was completely reliant on you,” she told Fisher during sentencing.

“It is clear that you intentionally released your child in the water when you knew his death was inevitable.”

Fisher then walked home and told his wife, after which authorities were called.

Police at Eagleby investigate the case in 2012. Pic: Annette Dew

He was assessed by mental health experts while in custody, who determined he had a psychotic disorder exacerbated by the use of mescaline, a hallucinogen.

Justice Lyons said Fisher’s wife had forgiven him, but the court was told they had divorced and she had moved their young family interstate.

“It is clear that the emotional consequences to a large number of people has been enormous,” she said.

The court was told Fisher had been a loving father to his family prior to the incident.

Fisher told the judge he was remorseful and cried for his dead son “every night”.

He will be eligible for parole on December 22, having already served more than three years behind bars.

Police search the area where David Fisher jumped into the river. Pic: Annette Dew