‘Significant’ force allegedly used by murder-accused mum on stepson, court told

The horror injuries allegedly inflicted on a young boy by his stepmother have been revealed at a Supreme Court bail hearing.

A woman charged with murdering her stepson in regional Queensland is alleged to have used “significant force” when the fatal injuries were allegedly inflicted, a court has been told.

Alicia Jane Lee, 23, is facing a single charge of murder following the death of her stepson Logan Shaun Hawkins on January 18.

At Brisbane Supreme Court on Friday, details of the horrific alleged injuries young Logan suffered were revealed during Ms Lee’s bail application.

The Crown alleges Ms Lee was alone with the child at the time when the two-year-old boy sustained “acute head injuries” at an address in Frenchville, a suburb of Rockhampton.

Logan was raced to Rockhampton Hospital and then Brisbane Children’s Hospital but died a day later.

The court was told initial observations of Logan at Rockhampton indicated he had suffered a traumatic brain injury, allegedly caused by a “degree of pressure” being placed on his brain stem.

It was alleged Ms Lee caused the injuries by an “application of force” to Logan.

Logan, 2, was raced to Rockhampton Hospital (pictured) after being found at a Frenchville home in January, but he died a day later at Brisbane Children’s Hospital.

The court was told Ms Lee had no criminal convictions.

Her lawyer said the assertion Ms Lee would interfere with witnesses was “without factual allegation”.

He said there was a “real network of support” for his client if she was released on bail.

“There is a support person she will live with,” her lawyer said.

He said Ms Lee would live away from central Queensland to avoid coming into contact with Crown witnesses.

It was submitted she had plans to apply for work and would seek a mental health plan from a GP if granted bail.

The court was told the case against Ms Lee was “circumstantial”.

Ms Lee’s lawyer said the Crown’s case on the charge of murder was “not strong”, but this was disputed by Crown prosecutor Aleksandra Nikolic.

She told the court a doctor’s report had indicated the child’s injuries would have required “significant force”.

“The explanations given by the applicant, given she was the only adult at home with the child, do not align with the doctor’s evidence,” Ms Nikolic said.

Justice Sean Cooper granted Ms Lee bail, noting she would not be allowed to reside with children under 10 years old without supervision.

“It is a strong prima facie case at least in the charge of manslaughter,” he said.