Mum of Connor Horan tells court son was distressed by mention of babysitter’s name

The mother of a boy allegedly murdered by Warwick woman Lisa Rose Halcrow has told a court about a ‘change’ in her son after he was allegedly burnt by the babysitter a year before his death.

Warwick woman Lisa Halcrow is charged with murder over the death of two-year-old Connor Horan.

The mother of a toddler allegedly murdered by his babysitter has told a court that after her son was allegedly burnt by an iron while in the woman’s care he would “crack it” at even the mention of her name.

Emily Horan said her son was burnt with an iron in 2017 while Warwick woman Lisa Rose Halcrow was babysitting him.

Ms Halcrow is charged with grievous bodily harm over the incident, and with the two-year-old’s alleged murder a year later.

Connor died on August 19, 2018 after spending the weekend with Ms Halcrow.

A committal hearing began in the Warwick Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning to determine if there is enough evidence for the matter to go to trial.

Miss Horan told the court she noticed a change in her son after he was allegedly burnt by Ms Halcrow.

“I thought he was just being a typical two-year-old, but he didn’t seem to be himself,” she said.

“Connor would crack it if I dropped him at Lisa’s or daycare. He always seemed to settle down at daycare but never seemed to settle at Lisa’s.”

A committal hearing to determine whether there is sufficient evidence for the matter to be set down for trial began on Wednesday morning.
Six witnesses are expected to give evidence during the two-day hearing.

The boy’s mother, the first to give evidence, did so through a witness room.

She also told the court she developed concerns about how frequently Miss Halcrow wanted to babysit Connor, and had been told “Lisa was going around telling Warwick she was Connor’s second mother”.

“It got that bad, my best friend even questioned why does (Lisa) always want to come over?”

“She was picking Connor up on a regular base (sic), it got that bad even Mum mentioned Lisa needs to back off.”

Miss Horan said at times it was five days a week her son would go with Ms Halcrow in some way, with times she would “pop over” and take Connor with her.

“It was starting off overnight, one day at a time,” she said.

“Then she would drop him back, then come back after work next week and ask to babysit him again.

“Mum used to tell me, you know, Lisa was saying I was ringing her all the time. I said to her that’s not true.”

Miss Horan said she would pay Ms Halcrow in cigarettes for babysitting when she needed it, but she did not pay at times where Ms Halcrow asked to take the boy.

Miss Horan told the court that days before her son died she had an argument with Ms Halcrow and told her not to worry about watching Connor that weekend.

She added that after some discussion the babysitting went ahead and after Miss Horan won some money on the pokies on the Friday night, she offered to buy Halcrow a six-pack for “helping out.”

She said Ms Halcrow told her at that point she would keep Connor an extra night and she could give the alcohol to her on the Sunday.

Connor was taken to hospital on the Sunday but died from multiple injuries.

The hearing continues before magistrate Julian Noud.