Shane Akehurst eligible to apply for parole after manslaughter of son Corby Akehurst, 21 months

The family of a toddler who died after being tortured and killed by his own father are horrified the killer could soon be freed after serving just 10 years behind bars.

Corby Akehurst was killed by his father ten years ago - photo Supplied

The family of a toddler who died after being tortured and killed by his own father are horrified the killer could soon be freed after serving just 10 years behind bars.

Tiny 21-month-old Corby Akehurst died after his dad Shane Akehurst threw him against a wall so violently he severed his brain stem.

Akehurst is now eligible to begin the process of applying for parole.

“He should have got life,” the little boy’s maternal aunt, Tanya Jeffrey, said.

“He gets a second chance at life - Corby never did.”

The little boy had 81 separate injuries when he died in March 2015, including “disturbing” injuries to his genitals, face, torso, arms and legs as well as older broken ribs.

The court heard in the months before Corby was killed, Akehurst would pick up his son at least once a week and squeeze him so hard his ribs could be heard “popping”.

Corby Akehurst died after suffering horrific injuries.

Corby Akehurst was killed by his father ten years ago - photo Supplied

When the little boy wouldn’t go to sleep, Akehurst would walk into his room and repeatedly punch him in the face.

Corby died two days after Akehurst repeatedly threw him onto the bed “with everything he had”, causing catastrophic brain injuries when his head hit the wall.

Akehurst, from Gin Gin, was originally charged with murder and torture but pleaded guilty to manslaughter and torture. He was sentenced to 12 years and six months behind bars but is eligible for parole after serving 10.

The sentencing judge noted Akehurst had a brain tumour that he could survive for a decade.

Ms Jeffrey said she was informed by the Parole Board Queensland that Akehurst is able to begin the application process now.

Shane Purssell Akehurst pleaded guilty to manslaughter and torture charges after admitting he'd killed his 21-month-old son Corby.

She said she was living on a rural property between Mackay and Rockhampton when Corby was rushed to hospital in 2015.

“When we knew him, he was a happy little fellow,” she said.

“He was always clingy. I just called him a sooky baby. When I look at it now, I know why.”

Ms Jeffrey said she arrived at the Queensland Children’s Hospital two days after her sister called to say Corby had suffered “convulsions”.

The little boy would die that day after his life support was turned off.

“It was all like a real whirlwind,” she said.

“We were sitting in the hospital on that Friday morning and they brought a machine in that was showing fractures. And I was like, what happened here?

“When you step back and start taking things in and start processing things, you think, no, there’s something wrong here.”

She said she did not agree with Akehurst pleading guilty to manslaughter and torture and believes he should have fronted a jury on the murder charge.

“I had to give up for a little bit because the system was making me wild,” Ms Jeffrey said.

“Where is our justice system?”

She said when she realised Akehurst could soon get parole, she contacted opposition police spokesman Dan Purdie, formerly a Detective Sergeant with the Sunshine Coast Child Protection and Investigation Unit who headed the arrest team that investigated Corby’s death.

Mr Purdie has written to the Parole Board Queensland to ensure Ms Jeffrey is registered to receive updates if Akehurst applies for release.

Corby Akehurst died in 2015.

“There’s no more important an investigation that the torture and unlawful killing of a defenceless child,” Mr Purdie said.

“It was a traumatic crime. The team I worked with worked diligently and around the clock to secure a conviction for an offender who had gone to some lengths to cover up his crime.

“But to hear from the family, to realise how quickly this time has passed and that he potentially could soon be released is devastating - not only for the police who investigated the crime but it is awfully devastating for the family.”

Mr Purdie said he and Detective Senior Constable Stacey Marshall sat with Akehurst in a waiting room at the Queensland Children’s Hospital where they painstakingly extracted his confession over many hours.

Corby Akehurst's aunt, Tanya, third from left, and supporters outside Brisbane Supreme Court. They'd travelled down for the sentence of Corby's dad, Shane Purssell Akehurst, who pleaded guilty to Corby's manslaughter and torture.

“She and I interviewed him overnight and into the early hours of the morning,” he said.

“After hours of covering his tracks and misdirection … I assume he appreciated the severity of the incident and the fact that his version wasn’t going to hold up to scrutiny.”

Mr Purdie said when the arrest team - himself and Det Sen Constables Marshall, Anthony Green and Amanda Rowland - finally walked Akehurst into the watch-house, they had been working for 48 hours straight.

“These are the sort of crimes where there are never any witnesses, the offender never brags,” he said.

“If you don’t keep working until you solve it, it just becomes harder and harder.

“It’s really rewarding at the time when you get justice but then you realise that time has flown and Corby is still not here and the extended family is still suffering this trauma.”

Prisoners are able to begin the parole application process six months before their eligibility date.