Yugar baby death: Parents charged with murder, torture
A couple have been charged with murder and torture in the death of their baby son, with police claiming they prayed for his recovery and only called an ambulance after he died.
Police & Courts
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A man and woman prayed over their gravely injured baby boy, calling an ambulance the following day only after he had already died, police will allege.
Police charged Reinhardt (Ryan) Bosch, 33, and his partner, Noemi Kondacs, 22, with murder and torture on Thursday night following the death of their seven-month-old son Rhuan.
Detectives described the baby boy’s death as one of the most confronting scenes they’d ever seen, adding: “We’re confident enough to charge the two people with murder.”
Police will allege injuries were inflicted on Rhuan some time on Wednesday and an ambulance was called to the family home on Mount Samson Rd, Yugar, northwest of Brisbane, the following morning.
Paramedics alerted police to the baby’s death.
Detectives will allege Mr Bosch caused Rhuan’s injuries, but the child’s mother was also charged with murder expected to be under the definition of reckless indifference. It is understood the parents are deeply religious, with Mr Bosch’s social media profile quoting Romans 8:28.
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purposes,” the profile says.
Detective Inspector David Jackman, from the Inner West Crime Group, spoke to media on Thursday.
“This morning at about 6.45am, police were called to an address at Mount Samson Rd in Yugar in relation to the sudden death of a seven-month-old male child,” he said.
“The investigation has uncovered injuries to the child which are enough for us to charge with murder.
“We’re confident enough to charge the two people with murder.”
Insp Jackman said police were called by the Queensland Ambulance Service at 6.45am where the baby was found inside the house.
“Upon arrival, police commenced a crime scene at that location and as a result, a 33-year-old male and a 22-year-old female have been taken into custody and will be later charged with murder in relation to the death of that seven-month-old child,” he said.
Mr Bosch made the call to paramedics.
“Originally the call went through as an unresponsive male child,” Insp Jackman, said, adding police had not been called to the house previously.
He said there was no evidence the child suffered from any medical conditions.
“At this stage we have got no information that would suggest the child has got any underlying health issues,” Insp Jackman said.
“The circumstances leading to the death we will allege happened in the last 24 hours.”
He said police would allege a case of murder involving reckless indifference in relation to Ms Kondacs.
“Any homicide is tragic. When it relates to a young person – or an infant in this instance – it’s quite confronting and tragic,” Insp Jackman said.
“Both people are upset and we’re looking after their welfare, as well as the welfare of the first responders that attended.
“From what I have seen the child wasn’t neglected in terms of nourishment and such but it’s quite confronting.
“Any homicide is confronting, however when you reduce the age of the victim, it certainly hits home.
“I’ve been a detective for 30-odd years and it’s one of the most confronting scenes that I’ve seen. People that have got children – they’re defenceless … it’s not pleasant, no.”
Insp Jackman said police would be speaking with friends and family, as well as neighbours, as the investigation continued.
“It is a semi-rural area so the house is some hundreds of metres away from neighbouring properties. So we haven’t uncovered anything untoward from our doorknocks,” he said.
Police left the home with a woman about 2.40pm, while a man arrived in another unmarked police car about 40 minutes later.
Detectives were seen inspecting a red Toyota GXL, parked outside the property on Thursday afternoon.
The house was a crime scene throughout the day, but police left around 4.30pm.
Nearby neighbours said they had never spoken to the family.
“They kept to themselves ever since they moved into the property about a year ago,” one said.
Another neighbour said she believed the man and woman were South African.
“The woman was noticeably pregnant when they moved in,” she said.
Another neighbour
Neighbouring properties in the suburb are set back from the busy Mount Samson Rd, with any view of the house blocked by overgrown trees and plants.
The couple was expected to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday.
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