Inquest told Tiahleigh Palmer was likely sexually abused by killer foster dad Rick Thorburn
There’s been a horrific claim in court about what the foster dad who murdered Tiahleigh Palmer did to her sexually before her death.
Murdered Queensland schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer was not only sexually abused by her foster brother, but was likely also abused by her foster dad, an inquest has been told.
Rick Thorburn – who was jailed for life in 2018 for murdering Tiahleigh – stunned the inquest on Tuesday when he tearfully claimed he may have accidentally smothered the 12-year-old in October 2015 during an argument.
As the inquest wrapped up on Wednesday, counsel assisting the coroner Kate McMahon explosively told the court it could be inferred that Thorburn sexually abused Tiahleigh and her murder could have been to cover up not only Trent’s actions, but his own.
The foster father was not in court as he was blasted as “remorseless” and “self-serving”.
“That is an inference available on circumstantial evidence,” Ms McMahon said.
She said Thorburn had not denied he may have had sexual contact with the girl and he had previous convictions for child sex offences.
Ms McMahon said there was some evidence in Thorburn having a “sexual interest” in Tiahleigh and he had made statements about a sexual act involving the young girl.
“If there is evidence (Thorburn) was acting potentially to cover up not only Trent’s sexual contact with Tiahleigh but his own possible (encounter), that is further reason to reject his account,” she said.
The two-day inquest has been rocked by evidence from Thorburn, who spoke for the first time about what he says happened the night he killed her.
Thorburn claimed Tiahleigh had packed a bag and was leaving down the driveway when she began screaming and swearing at him.
He said he grabbed her around the waist and put his hand over her mouth as he dragged her back to the house.
He said by the time he arrived on the veranda, she was not responding.
Ms McMahon told the court it could be inferred Tiahleigh died of asphyxiation, either suffocation or strangling, between 7pm and 10pm on October 29, 2015.
Ms McMahon said a recorded prison phone call between Thorburn and his wife suggested a deliberate plan to claim a lack of memory in order to frustrate the inquest.
“Even now he is remorseless for this murder,” Ms McMahon said.
“That remorselessness has also been evident in his behaviour towards this inquest.”
Thorburn’s defence barrister Matthew Hickey said the court had no reason to doubt the truthfulness of his client’s memory loss.
He called the claims of evidence about his client’s sexual abuse circumstantial and arising from hearsay.
“It’s an inadequate basis for a finding that there’s an inference of sexual abuse against a child in his care,” Mr Hickey said.
“It rises no higher than a possibility, not even a probability and certainly not the most probable outcome.
He argued his client was remorseful as he had shown genuine sorrow when he took the witness stand and gave his statement.
“There’s no evidence to suggest Tiahleigh was strangled … the only evidence is that she was smothered,” Mr Hickey said.
Detective Inspector Chris Knight, who was the operations leader in the homicide investigation, told the court on Tuesday he had trouble accepting Thorburn’s confession.
He said the attempt to leave did not add up with the girl’s past history, as he was not aware of any instances where she attempted to leave home.
“My opinion is that … I don’t believe the account provided is consistent with the known information,” he said.
Inspector Knight said he believed Tiahleigh’s body was stored in the back shed of the Thorburn’s property and was moved after she was reported missing on October 30.
He said he believed the body was disposed of that evening.
Tiahleigh’s death shocked the nation when her body was found on the banks of the Pimpama River in November 2015.
Her body was so badly decomposed a cause of death could not be determined.
She was last seen alive on October 29, 2015 attending a dance class where she complained of stomach pains.
That same night, Trent told his mother he’d had sex with Tiahleigh and was concerned she was pregnant.
The foster parents feared the young girl’s stomach pains were consistent with pregnancy and were concerned their son could go to jail.
The inquest also heard from Thorburn’s wife, Julene, who said she still visited him behind bars and remained married to him.
She said Thorburn never told her what happened the night Tiahleigh was murdered but gave an ominous message: “What you aren’t told, you can’t repeat.”
Julene bizarrely changed into new clothes and concealed herself with a wig to avoid waiting media outside after giving evidence.
Each of the Thorburns have received jail terms relating to Tiahleigh’s death.
Trent was jailed for four years for having sex with Tiahleigh but was released on parole in 2018 after 16 months behind bars.
Julene was sentenced to 18 months’ jail for perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice, with the sentence suspended after six months.
Deputy State Coroner Jane Bentley is expected to deliver her findings in the coming weeks.