Burpengary toddler murder charge: Jaylen Priest’s father tells of trauma

The biological father of Moreton Bay region toddler Jaylen Priest has told of his trauma as the boyfriend of the boy’s mother is charged with his murder.

The devastated biological father of youngster Jaylen Priest – allegedly murdered by his mother’s boyfriend – says he feels like he is living his worst nightmare, revealing he had to watch his son’s funeral online while alone at work.

Brayden Priest’s 16-month-old biological son died in a hospital bed on January 8 – nine days after an ambulance was called to the toddler’s home at Burpengary north of Brisbane.

Nearly one month after the toddler’s death Aaron Harley James – who is dating Jaylen’s mother Savannah-Rose Wilson – was charged with the child’s murder on Wednesday.

Ms Wilson has not been charged and there is no suggestion of wrongdoing by her.

Mr Priest, who had entrusted his precious son to Jaylen’s mother after the pair split about 10 months ago – described how he had been told his son’s injuries were an accident from playing with other kids in the house.

Brayden Priest with son Jaylen

On December 30, Mr Priest received a call while returning home from working in a warehouse – the same job he was doing when he was forced to watch little Jaylen’s funeral online, via live stream.

“I’m here by myself, I have no support,” Mr Priest said.

“I watched his funeral through my phone at work.”

Learning the news of his boy’s condition about 3pm on December 30, Mr Priest later rushed to the Queensland Children’s Hospital following Jaylen’s emergency transfer from Caboolture.

He looked at his son’s body and listened to doctors discuss his injuries for several days.

“I was hoping that it was like an accident caused by the kids or something, just something like that, something accidental. I could’ve coped with that,” Mr Priest said.

Mr Priest said he had not spoken to Ms Wilson since her partner was charged over Jaylen’s death.

He said learning of the murder charge was his worst nightmare.

Jaylen Priest died after nine days in hospital.

“All the things you try to tell yourself in your head, that it didn’t happen, it couldn’t happen…” Mr Priest said.

“And then when this s--t happens, it makes it all real.

“It was just a thought, but now maybe it’s not any more.”

Jaylen was Mr Priest’s only son.

He said that when he and Ms Wilson were dating, the pair were attentive parents.

They were the sort of parents who would ensure their midwife, Kim, came every week.

They would ask her questions about Jaylen, and make sure their boy was putting on weight and getting stronger.

“We were attentive parents,” Mr Priest said.

“When me and Savannah and Jaylen were a family, our days were pretty much all the same.

“I wasn’t working then so we were both on Centrelink and we hardly left the house.

“Maybe we left the house once or twice a fortnight, and then for breakfast on a Sunday.”

Brayden Priest has told of his pain.

Mr Priest said he drank when his son was younger.

“But I guess I had traded that for the drugs I left behind,” he said.

At only six months old, around the same time Mr Priest and Ms Wilson split, Jaylen would pull himself up against the couch or the coffee table.

At just seven or eight months, he started to walk.

“(Jaylen) was running not long after that,” Mr Priest said, “and from what I heard, he just didn’t stop.

“But I knew that would be what happened, because that’s exactly what happened to me.”

Mr Priest said his favourite thing about his boy were his ears.

“I’m embarrassed about it, I don’t know if I want to say it,” he said.

“But I loved his ears.”

Mr Priest urged all parents to “just frigging look after your kids”.

Aaron Hartley James, charged with one count of murder (domestic violence), did not appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court yesterday morning.

He remains in custody, while his matter has been adjourned to March 28.

Jaylen’s mother Savannah-Rose Wilson outside court. Picture: Liam Kidston