Matthew James Cox murder charges in Rockhampton court

The murder case for the Rockhampton man who allegedly stabbed his wife and baby daughter to death has come before the Rockhampton Magistrates Court for the first time since the tragedy in August.

Matt and Tayla Cox. Tayla and baby were found dead in a house on Bean Street.

The murder case for the Rockhampton man who allegedly stabbed his wife and baby daughter to death has come before the Rockhampton Magistrates Court for the first time since the tragedy in August.

However, Matthew James Cox’s legal representatives were not in court, nor contacted the court to arrange other methods to appear.

Police prosecutor Brandon Selic said there was a note on the police file that Mr Cox’s previous legal representatives had withdrawn, however acting Magistrate Paul Byrne said there was no such note on the court’s file.

Mr Selic said the brief of evidence for the case was only partially completed and had been provided to the 31-year-old’s previous legal representatives.

He requested the matter be adjourned until Friday, December 8 and he would make enquiries about the status of Mr Cox’s legal representation.

The adjournment was granted.

However, the matter was mentioned again later this morning with Legal Aid taking on Mr Cox’s defence case.

It was then adjourned to January 24, 2024.

He has not entered pleas to charges he murdered his wife Tayla Black, 30, and their 11-week-old, Murphy Margaret.

Matt and Tayla Cox. Tayla and baby were found dead in a house on Bean Street.

Mr Cox did not appear in court.

As of December 5, he was remanded in custody in a south-east Queensland jail.

His court matter was transferred to Rockhampton when it was briefly heard in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday, November 27.

Police will allege he left work early on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, and stabbed his wife and baby in their Bean St, Park Avenue home.

They will further allege Mr Cox flew to Brisbane and attended the Fortitude Valley Police Station.

After Mr Cox attended the station, police conducted a welfare check and discovered the bodies of Tayla and Murphy.

He cannot apply for bail in the magistrates court because of the seriousness of his charges.

When Tayla and Murphy’s moving funeral was held on August 25, Tayla’s parents said through the celebrant, “not a day will go past when our girls are not in our thoughts and hearts”.

Following their deaths, a local football team wore black armbands at a match and Rockhampton council changed the riverbank lights to pink, Tayla’s favourite colour, as the community joined together to mourn the loss of two beloved locals.