Louwanna Goltz manslaughter charge in Rockhampton court

A major update in the case of a Queensland mother accused of killing her son has been heard.

Louwanna Thyra Goltz is charged with the alleged murder of Zion Ziggy Sean Goltz, aged 8.

A woman accused of killing her son will have her case sent to the higher courts by Easter, according to a progress update heard in court today.

Louwanna Thyra Goltz, 38, was charged with the murder of Zion Ziggy Sean Goltz, 8, at their Waterloo Street, Berserker residence in July 2022.

The charge was downgraded to manslaughter in September 2024.

Ms Goltz has not entered a plea.

During a mention of the case in Rockhampton Magistrates Court this afternoon, defence lawyer Ashley Reynolds said the solicitor looking after the case sought to get advice from a barrister before lodging for a committal via registry (where cases need to be sent to a higher court such as the Supreme court in this case) and requested a four-week adjournment.

In an objection to bail affidavit by police viewed by this publication shortly after Zion’s death, it was alleged Ms Goltz turned up on the doorstep of family members in Parkhurst at 1am on July 30, allegedly “rambling incoherently about spirits and referencing a covered artist’s canvas” she had with her.

According to the court documents, one of the witnesses told police Ms Goltz allegedly told her she had been lying down with Zion watching television and a voice told her to kill him “because child safety would take him away and she herself would end up in a body bag”.

Louwanna Thyra Goltz.

Police attended the Waterloo Street unit Ms Goltz shared with her son to perform a welfare check about 2.20am on Saturday, July 30, and officers found the eight-year-old boy unresponsive.

The court documents state it appeared Zion had died by alleged strangulation and an autopsy would provide further information.

Police alleged Ms Goltz’s mental health had “rapidly declined” in the month before the tragedy “and alarmingly quickly within the last week”.

The court documents state family and witnesses told police they had allegedly heard Ms Goltz yelling incoherently over the past month, particularly when she had been under the influence.

The court documents also state neighbours reported hearing her speaking in an unknown language and screaming “f**k off” over the previous two weeks.

Ms Goltz was remanded in custody at Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre.

Ms Goltz’s manslaughter charge was adjourned to March 26.