Doctors report still outstanding in Alicia Jane Lee murder charge

Frustration is growing in a Rockhampton court where the case against a Brisbane-based stepmother charged with a tiny boy’s murder is missing one key detail from the Queensland Children’s Hospital.

Rockhampton Hospital

The case arising from the alleged murder of a toddler by his stepmother has been delayed yet again as legal parties wait for a brief of evidence to be completed almost 2.5 years after the child’s death.

Alicia Jane Lee was charged with murder after the death of her two-year-old stepson Logan Shaun Hawkins in February, 2022.

Logan died on January 19, 2022, the day after emergency services were called to a Frenchville address and he was rushed to Rockhampton Hospital, and then on to Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane.

He died from a traumatic brain injury.

The court previously heard in February that while the pathologist’s report containing information from Logan’s autopsy and other tests was completed, there was a medical report outstanding from the children’s hospital doctor who was the treating physician prior to turning off Logan’s life support.

Police prosecutor Brandon Selic had advised at the time that doctor “was unable to draft her report in relation to her actions until the pathologist’s report had been finalised”.

This week, he gave another update about that report.

The court heard the doctor had communicated to prosecutors that they had “unexpectedly had to extend their leave until July 17”.

“This is frustrating, but that statement is required,” he said.

Defence lawyer Jodie Mair told the court that once that report was received, the defence team would be seeking their own expert report and that would take about two months.

Magistrate Cameron Press decided given this information that a longer adjournment was required.

Ms Lee’s murder charge was adjourned to August 7.

She was not required to attend court this month and remains on Supreme Court bail, living in the Brisbane area.

During the bail application on August 12, 2022, Crown prosecutor Aleksandra Nikolic said significant force was required to have resulted in the injuries identified by the doctor.

She said it was alleged Ms Lee was the only adult with Logan at the time the fatal injuries were inflicted.

Ms Lee’s bail conditions include no contact with Crown witnesses and no contact with children under the age of 10 without supervision.

No plea has been entered.