Accused wife, baby murderer Matthew Cox’s lawyers seek psychiatric report

There’s been an update in the case against an alleged double murderer, accused of brutally stabbing his young wife and 11-week-old daughter. It comes 16 months after their deaths shocked Queensland.

Dad Matthew Cox has been charged with the alleged murder of his wife Tayla and their 11-week-old baby Murphy.

Lawyers for a man accused of killing his wife and 11-week-old baby in a regional town before flying to Brisbane are seeking funds for a special report almost 16 months after the alleged murders took place.

Matthew James Cox is charged with the murders of Tayla Black, 30, and their 11-week-old daughter, Murphy Margaret.

Police will allege the 31-year-old 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 which led officers to conduct a welfare check at the Rockhampton home where the bodies of Tayla and Murphy were discovered inside.

Mr Cox’s murder charges were mentioned in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on Wednesday afternoon, December 4.

Defence lawyer Sean Gibbs advised the Legal Aid lawyers handling Mr Cox’s case have submitted an application for funding for a psychiatric report.

This comes after defence lawyer Felicity Davis advised the court in September that she would be attending Brisbane mid-November with counsel to get the finalised committal instructions from Mr Cox in person when they visited him in the southeast Queensland jail where he was on remand.

Mr Cox’s appearance was excused for the next mention on February 26.

He has not entered pleas and cannot apply for bail in the magistrates court because of the seriousness of his charges.