Trent Thorburn bashed twice in prison, with inmates cheering his attackers on

TRENT Thorburn has been bashed twice in prison since he was arrested a week ago following the death of 12-year-old Tiahleigh Palmer, with inmates shouting ‘pretty boy’ and ‘kill him’ as they cheered the attacks.

Trent Thorburn

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TRENT Thorburn has been bashed twice in prison, with inmates shouting “pretty boy” and “kill him” as they cheered his attackers on.

The 19-year-old dancer has been in custody since Tuesday after he was arrested, along with his father, mother and brother, over the death of 12-year-old Tiahleigh Palmer last October.

His father Rick Thorburn — Tiahleigh’s foster father — is accused of murdering her after discovering his son had been having sex with the young girl in the family’s Chambers Flat home.

Police will allege he killed Tiahleigh out of fear Trent would go to jail.

The Courier-Mail can reveal an ambulance was called to Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre on Sunday afternoon after one of Thorburn’s attackers was injured in an altercation with guards.

It is understood inmates are targeting Thorburn, calling him “little pretty boy”, and encouraging each other to bash him on sight.

Thorburn is being kept in an area of the jail for high-risk prisoners, including accused paedophiles and high-profile inmates.

Trent Thorburn

He was attacked on Sunday morning but was later returned to the same area.

He was attacked again by two prisoners in the afternoon, with a large crowd of inmates cheering them on and shouting for them to kill him.

It is understood the two inmates who attacked Thorburn were physically restrained by guards.

Queensland Ambulance Service confirmed it responded to a call from Arthur Gorrie at 3pm but would provide no further details.

However, it is believed one of the men was taken to Princess Alexandra’s secure unit with a suspected broken leg.

Thorburn was treated at the prison infirmary and was said to have “scratch marks” and injuries to his face and neck. It is understood his injuries are not serious.

It is not known whether the dancer has now been moved to a more secure section of the prison or if he was returned to the place where he was twice attacked.

He is said to be sharing a cell with another young inmate and is described as a person who has “no chance of defending himself”.

Thorburn faces charges of incest, perjury and perverting the course of justice. Media reports suggest he will make a fresh bid for bail over the next month.

A court heard last week that detectives recovered Facebook messages in which Thorburn told a cousin he had had sex with his 12-year-old foster sister.

“A statement has ... been obtained by the cousin of the defendant. She said to the police that the defendant disclosed to her on the 28th of October, 2015, he had sex with the victim,” Sgt Elen French told a bail hearing.

Tiahleigh Palmer was reported missing on October 30, with Rick Thorburn allegedly telling police he had dropped his foster daughter outside school that morning and she did not come home.

Police now believe Tiahleigh was murdered the night before.

Trent’s mother Julene and brother Josh have been charged with perjury and perverting the course of justice. The charges relate to their appearances in secret hearings with the Crime and Corruption Commission.

A Department of Justice spokesman said privacy provisions prevented them from commenting.

Originally published as Trent Thorburn bashed twice in prison, with inmates cheering his attackers on