Torture charges after boy, 5, found with critical injuries and two others discovered hurt in garage

The Brisbane man charged with torture of his three children, after a young boy was found with critical injuries and two others were discovered badly hurt in a garage, successfully fought deportation to his home country in 2017, it can be revealed.

The Brisbane man charged with torturing his three children – including his five-year-old son who was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries – successfully fought deportation to his home country in 2017, it can be revealed.

The man faced the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday afternoon where Senior Sergeant Mark Gorton objected to him being released on bail.

Sen Sgt Gorton said the five-year-old boy was in a coma with life threatening injuries.

Police became aware of the three children after the Queensland Ambulance Service was called to help a five-year-old boy living at a house in Wishart.

Paramedics arrived at the property at 9.30pm Saturday, taking the little boy to the Queensland Children’s Hospital for treatment.

Further investigation led to the discovery of two other children – a six-year-old girl and an eight-year-old boy in the garage.

“It will be alleged both children were found with extensive non-life threatening injuries and were transported to Queensland Children’s Hospital for treatment,” a statement released by police said.

“The address was declared a crime scene, and a 29-year-old man, who is known to the children, was taken into custody.”

The man was charged with seven counts of assault occasioning bodily harm, three counts of torture, three counts of assault occasioning bodily harm while armed and one count of grievous bodily harm.

The court heard the father-of-three was a refugee who moved to Australian about 14 years ago from an African country and had since amassed six pages of Queensland criminal history.

His offending included a conviction for leaving a child unattended and giving false or misleading information to authorities.

Magistrate Julian Noud said doctors had given evidence that the five-year-old boy would have died if medical treatment had not been sought.

Magistrate Noud said the boy’s two older siblings also allegedly had injuries consistent with assault, grievous bodily harm and torture.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the man had successfully fought deportation to his home country in 2017.

His refugee visa was cancelled and the man was taken to the Christmas Island Detention Centre before the decision was later reversed and his visa reinstated, meaning he was allowed to stay in Australia.

In considering his visa status, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal was asked to take into account evidence that the man was the primary carer for the children whose mother did not play an active role in their upbringing.

The tribunal also heard submissions that the man’s presence in the lives of his children were in their “best interests”.

The man’s bail application was refused and his matter was adjourned for mention on February 27.