Mother accused of inflicting life-changing brain, spinal injuries on infant son walks free from court

A young Queensland mum-of-three accused of causing her 11-month-old son of severe brain and spinal injuries has been bailed.

A 29-year-old woman has been charged with the GBH of her 11-month-old son.

An 11-month-old boy remains in hospital with severe brain and spinal injuries which police allege were caused by his mother almost six weeks ago.

Doctors say the child’s injuries will “almost certainly” lead to permanent disability of some kind and they may also limit his life expectancy.

His 29-year-old mother faced Brisbane Arrests Court for the first time on Saturday morning after being charged on Friday with grievous bodily harm.

She also has two outstanding charges from Australia Day - one count of driving with a suspended licence, and another count of mid-range drink driving.

Police allege the Ipswich mother assaulted her infant son at a residence in Camira in Ipswich on the morning of Tuesday, March 7.

She called an ambulance that morning and the child was rushed to hospital. Ipswich child protection detectives began looking into the matter immediately.

The 29-year-old woman has been bailed.

The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, has two other children - a two-year-old boy and a six-year-old daughter.

Legal Aid defence lawyer Nick Douglas said the mother had participated in an interview with police and given a version of events.

He said his client told investigators she heard the child crying in the road and ran outside to help. She screamed to her neighbours to help, but none came.

She then picked up the infant and ran back inside as it was a hot day, and called Triple-0.

It is understood the mother told police her son threw his head back when she picked him up after a suspected fall from height. However, medical evidence does not support this.

Mr Douglas said his client has visited her son in hospital every day since.

“Particularly with respect to the medical evidence, this is not a matter that will likely finalise in the next 12-18 months, I would think,” Mr Douglas said.

He said his client has cared for her three children full-time for all of their lives. He added that the Department of Child Safety is involved and fully aware of this matter.

Mr Douglas made an application for bail on behalf of his client, which police opposed.

In the end, Magistrate Terry Duroux granted her bail, but with strict conditions.

“These are particularly serious allegations, we can’t shy away from that,” he said.

The Ipswich woman must live with her mother in Teneriffe and report to police twice a week.

While there is no certainty around exactly how the infant sustained an acute extensive traumatic brain and spinal injury, police allege his mother is responsible.

“The mechanism of injury must come back to (his mother),” Magistrate Duroux said, referring to the police allegations based on medical analysis.

“No medical cause was found to account (for the child’s injuries) … an inflicted injury remains the most likely cause.”

“The subject child has suffered a severe head injury that will almost certainly lead to permanent disability and may limit his life expectancy.”

The child had to be intubated and ventilated for more than a week in hospital due to brain swelling. He suffered seizures on the morning of the incident.

Magistrate Duroux granted the woman bail on the condition that she lives with her mother at Teneriffe and she must report to police twice per week.

Magistrate Duroux also ordered that she cannot have any contact with a witness in the case, she cannot contact her six-year-old daughter, and she can only see her son in hospital with the permission of a Department of Child Safety officer.

The case was adjourned to the Brisbane Magistrates Court on May 8.