Jessica Blinda Polsoni facing Supreme Court trial for murder of daughter

A Queensland mum’s push to have the murder charge against her struck out has been rejected with the case committed to the supreme court.

Parents Jessica and Adam Hanbury have been charged with murder after their two-year-old daughter died on Thursday, December 29, 2022. Picture: Fergus Gregg

A Mackay mum’s push to have the murder charge against her struck out has been rejected with the case committed to the supreme court.

During a part-heard hand-up committal in Mackay Magistrates Court on Wednesday Jessica Blinda Polsoni voiced further allegations of criminal conduct by the Queensland Police Service, police prosecution and a magistrate in relation to her case, which is now in the hands of Crown Prosecutions.

“These proceedings have been compromised to the highest of levels and I allege that I am only here today because an unlawful investigation brought about these charges by means of fake evidence that was deceitfully buried in our backyard to end a year-long failure to find fault,” she said.

Ms Polsoni, who also goes by Hanbury, and her husband Adam Hanbury are charged with murder over the death of their two-year-old daughter Diana Hanbury in 2022.

Police allege Diana, who is the youngest of six children, was already dead when Ms Polsoni took her to Mackay Base Hospital about 8pm December 29.

Jessica Blinda Polsoni (centre) Hanbury leaves Mackay courthouse after the murder charge against her was committed to the supreme court.

They further allege the young girl had been unwell in the days before she was taken to the emergency department and that Mr and Ms Polsoni neglected to get her appropriate medical attention in the lead up to her death.

The court heard Ms Polsoni, who had a group of supporters in court, has made attempts in both the supreme court and magistrates court to have the case against her thrown out. Both applications were rejected.

She also requested Magistrate Damien Dwyer recuse himself on the grounds of bias, because he had forfeited her bail and ordered her return to prison on remand when she would not answer to her name during a court appearance.
This was taken to the supreme court and Chief Justice Helen Bowskill found she had been wrongfully placed on remand and ordered her release.

The court Ms Polsoni had relied on this judgment in her argument for Mr Dwyer to recuse himself.

“There was nothing raised in that decision about bias,” Mr Dwyer said, in refusing to recuse himself from the matter.

Ms Polsoni is with two of her supporters who gathered around her at the courthouse.

Mr Dwyer determined Mr Polsoni understood the proceedings, what the consequences could be and that she was entitled to be legally represented.

“I am of the opinion that the evidence adduced is sufficient to put the defendant on … trial for an indictable offence,” Mr Dwyer said.

When asked if she wanted to say anything or enter any plea, Ms Polsoni said “I do not wish to enter a pleas” but instead read from an affidavit where she said “all my charges must be dismissed for a multiple of reasons”.

She said the allegations included fabricating evidence, perjury, false arrests, assaults by police and contempt of court.

“At all times I have said and maintain I am innocent, as is my husband, and no one given the above information about tampering with evidence, perjury, perverting the course of justice and contempt of court will ever be able to find me guilty,” Ms Polsoni said.

The case was committed to Mackay Supreme Court. Crown Prosecutions now has six months to formally indict Ms Polsoni in the higher court.

Matters against Mr Hanbury were also briefly mentioned. His case was adjourned for a registry committal.

Originally published as Jessica Blinda Polsoni facing Supreme Court trial for murder of daughter