Murder case against Ayden Jedd Bradshaw over baby Beau’s death discontinued

The Queensland father spent more than two years on remand after he was accused of killing his baby son — but new evidence has changed everything.

Beau Bradshaw and father Ayden Bradshaw, who was charged with murder over his son's death in June 2020. The case against him has been dropped

The murder case has been dropped against a Mackay father accused of killing his baby son, four years after he was arrested over the death.

Ayden Jedd Bradshaw has spent more than two years in custody on remand and just under two years on strict supreme court bail conditions.

But it can be revealed crown prosecution has pulled the pin on the criminal case against him, determining there was no longer a reasonable prospect of success – the matter is with the Central Coroner.

Mr Bradshaw’s lawyer Robyn Cathcart, of ATSILS, said it had been “a traumatic time for everyone involved”.

“We’re just really pleased now that the matter is over and that he’s allowed to just get on with his life,” Ms Cathcart said.

He was arrested and charged with murder in August 2020 — two months after the death of his six-month-old son Beau Bradshaw.

Baby Beau was found unresponsive at his East Mackay home on June 2 and died two days later.

Ayden Bradshaw, 24, is arrested over the death of his six-month-old baby son Beau Bradshaw in August 2020. Photo: Tara Miko

As part of the now dropped police case it was previously alleged Mr Bradshaw had caused his son’s death during a 20-minute window when the pair were alone together.

The court process in relation to the case has been lengthy, with the matter being listed for trial and then delisted as Mr Bradshaw’s defence barrister Scott McLennan, instructed by ATSILS, raised various concerns and pushed for more information.

He had also indicated in court he had made submissions to crown prosecutions about the matter.

In August it was revealed the forensic pathologist who conducted the autopsy on baby Beau may change their opinion after further information was revealed to them.

During that pre-trial mention in August in the supreme court Crown prosecutor Tiffany Lawrence said a number of conferences had been conducted with expert witnesses and “during the course of that, the forensic pathologist that did the autopsy itself requested some further information from one of the other surgeons involved”.

Beau Frank Bradshaw who was found unresponsive at an East Mackay home on Tuesday June 2.

“That was provided to him on Thursday evening,” she previously told the court.

“Following that conference, the crown is waiting an indication from the pathologist to see if that changes the opinion and that will likely determine the matter in terms of the submission.”

A spokesman for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions confirmed on September 24 the matter against Mr Bradshaw “was discontinued this morning”.

“After a review of the admissible evidence, which included some additional medical evidence, it was determined that the Crown no longer had reasonable prospects of success,” the spokesman said.

“The review of the death of the child is the subject of an ongoing coronial investigation.”

This means the Central Coroner will investigate the circumstances surrounding Beau’s death and determine whether or not to hold an inquest.

It will also make findings about the death which may or may not be made public.