Mother of killed toddler Mason Lee accuses stepfather in court outburst
THE mother of toddler Mason Lee had to be restrained in court as she screamed “child killer” at the child’s stepfather in the dock.
THE mother of Queensland toddler Mason Jet Lee has erupted in court, accusing her former partner of killing her son.
Anne Maree Lee and stepfather William Andrew O’Sullivan are facing a committal hearing in the Brisbane Magistrates Court to determine whether they will stand trial for the 21-month-old’s manslaughter.
While hearing evidence about the numerous injuries to Mason’s body, Lee had to be restrained by security guards as she leapt in the dock to scream at O’Sullivan.
“What did you do to my son, you f***ing ... you killed my son,” Lee said.
Teenager Ryan Robert Barry Hodson is also charged with manslaughter, while Lee and O’Sullivan are facing the additional offence of cruelty to children under 16 years.
The court has heard Mason’s body was covered in injuries that may have occurred within several hours to several days of his death.
However forensic pathologist Christopher Day testified it was not possible to determine when a fatal rupture to the boy’s small intestine occurred or exactly when he died.
“I could not determine time of death,” Dr Day said on Monday.
The court has heard Mason suffered from a rupture to the first part of his small intestine that allowed faecal matter to escape into his blood stream, causing fatal sepsis.
Dr Day said Mason may have exhibited “subtle and varied” symptoms of the injury before his body was found by paramedics at a Caboolture home on June 11, 2016.
A total of 12 medical experts and another witness are expected to give evidence at the hearing over the next two days.