Rockhampton woman charged with murdering stepson, 2

A Queensland woman has been bailed as she faces murder charges over the death of her two-year-old stepson.

A Rockhampton toddler died a day after his 23-year-old stepmother applied “significant force” to the little boy while he was in her care, prosecutors allege.

Alicia Jane Lee is charged with murdering her two-year-old stepson Logan Hawkins at her home in January this year.

Lee was granted bail in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Friday despite objections by lawyers for the Crown, who argued the case against the Central Queensland woman was strong.

Logan was taken to Rockhampton Hospital on January 18 and then rushed to Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane, where he died the following day from a traumatic brain injury.

Crown prosecutor Aleksandra Nikolic objected to Lee being released, submitting that the case against her was strong.

“In my submission the Crown case is a strong one in relation to murder, but equally in relation to manslaughter,” she said.

“The intention in my submission can be inferred from the significant force required to have resulted in the injuries that were identified by the doctor.

“In any event if your honour is not satisfied there is a strong case for murder, then a conviction for manslaughter is inevitable if those opinions of the doctor are accepted by a jury.”

Ms Nikolic said it was alleged Lee was the only adult with Logan at the time the fatal injuries were inflicted

“The explanations provided by the applicant given that she was the only adult at home with the child do not align with the opinions of (the) doctor,” she said.

Defence barrister Peter Richards disputed the case against his client was strong and said it relied on circumstantial evidence.

He said Lee had no criminal history and conditions could be imposed to ameliorate the risks associated with granting bail.

He said if released, she would live with a friend in South East Queensland, meaning it was unlikely she would encounter Crown witnesses who resided in Central Queensland.

Mr Richards said there were no children at the proposed bail address and Lee intended to find work and seek mental health support.

Justice Shaun Cooper said Lee had demonstrated her continued detention was not justified and she was released on bail to reside with a friend at Morayfield north of Brisbane.