Suspect in baby park attack flees country

One key piece of missing evidence allowed the man who poured hot coffee on a baby in a Brisbane park to evade police and flee overseas.

The man police suspect of seriously assaulting a nine-month-old baby by pouring hot liquid on him at a Brisbane park last month has left the country, with the baby’s mother describing the update as “heartbreaking”.

Baby Luka’s mother said she had just one question for the man – “why?” – and said she would want the death penalty as punishment for the attack if it were possible.

Baby Luka and an image of a man police had said they wished to speak to in relation to the Stones Corner incident.

Her comments come after Detective Inspector Paul Dalton on Monday confirmed the suspect – a 33-year-old foreign man – left Australia on August 31. By the time police identified the man he had already left the country.

Det Insp Dalton said there was a warrant for the arrest of the man for acts intending to cause grievous bodily harm, following the attack at a park in Stones Corner, in Brisbane’s south, on August 27.

He said he wouldn’t share where the suspect had travelled to but that investigators knew.

Det Insp Dalton said police were given a name initially in the investigation but it wasn’t correct.

“It soon became apparent to us that this person was aware of police methodologies (and) was certainly conducting counter-surveillance activities which made the investigation quite complex,” he said.

Detective Inspector Paul Dalton on Monday, providing the update in the case. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

“It wasn’t until September 1 that we were able to put a name to the face in the CCTV.

“Even at that stage we probably didn’t have enough evidence to obtain a warrant. We’ve since been to New South Wales and Victoria to gather that information and the warrant has been granted.

“I am able to say that on the 28th of August, we know that that person was in New South Wales, and I can confirm he flew out of Australia on the 31st of August.”

Baby Luka’s parents, who have asked not to be identified. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Baby Luka’s mother said she was devastated the man had fled the country.

“It sounds like they were very very close in catching him,” she said on Monday.

“This obviously means that we’re going to have to wait who knows how long to get justice for our son.

“It’s a bit heartbreaking.”

Police on Monday said the maximum penalty for the offence of acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm was life imprisonment.

“If the death penalty is around, that’s what I would want,” the mother said.

“Anyone that harms a child should not be allowed to keep roaming the streets.”

Baby Luka in hospital. Picture: Supplied

Luka’s father said they believed police had done everything they could to catch the man.

“I’d like to speak to him privately. My message would be a private one,” he said.

Luka’s mother said she wanted answers.

“I just want to know why, why he did this,” she said.

“These are questions that may always be unanswered.

“For me personally, I’ve been living in fear, anxiety, stress. I had no idea where this person was.

“We came home (from hospital), I had panic attacks. I still continue to do so. I do feel relieved he is not in this country in some sense, but I will always have fear and anxiety being out in public with my son.

“It’s affected my mental health for the rest of my life just immense sadness for my son on what he went through that day.”

Baby Luka after one of his multiple surgeries.

Pictures: Supplied

They said Luka was in good spirits and was happy. They said he would receive medical treatment they described as pre-skin grafts for the next two to six weeks but that it would take years for Luka to recover.

When asked if they wanted to make an appeal for the man to hand himself in, Luka’s parents said they didn’t think the man would.

“He knew what he was doing,” Luka’s mother said.

“He chose two vulnerable women with their babies, sitting on a picnic rug, and then evaded police.

“He knew exactly what he was doing. His appearance was totally different. I wouldn’t have even recognised him if I saw him once he had taken off his glasses and hat.

“He knew what he was doing.”

The man left Australia via Sydney. Police believe the man got to Sydney in a car, Det Insp Dalton said.

“That person has been coming and going to and from Australia since 2019,” Det Insp Dalton said.

“Every time he has been here it has been lawful. He has been on either a working visa or a holiday visa.

“The most recent time he has been here since January 2022.

“He has addresses basically across the eastern seaboard. He doesn’t have an address in Queensland, he had addresses in New South Wales and Victoria.”

Det Insp Dalton said there were “no adverse findings” on police records of the man in Australia.

He said there was no motive for the crime.

Det Insp said the man had worked between Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

Investigators do not know where the man was living at the time of the attack. They have spoken to the man’s colleagues.

“We will keep going until we find you. And I have not lost that determination,” Det Insp Dalton said.

“I’ve got 30 detectives working for me. They are devastated that they missed this person by 12 hours. I think only the family would be more upset about that.”

Det Insp Dalton on Monday said he believed the attack was the “most cowardly” he had seen in his career.

“I’ve seen a lot of disgusting acts but this is one ... if you look at the situation I can’t think of someone being in a more vulnerable situation and being a more vulnerable person,” he said.

“A young mother and a baby sitting on the ground and you are allegedly approaching them from behind. Can you think of anything more vulnerable than that? And to take advantage of that? You’re probably right, it’s one of the most disgusting ones I’ve come across.”

Baby Luka allegedly had hot liquid thrown at him at Hanlon Park in Stones Corner.

Det Insp Dalton said he had given Luka’s family that investigators would do everything they could to catch the man.

The Australian Federal Police on Monday confirmed it was assisting Queensland Police after an arrest warrant was issued for the man.

“The AFP’s Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team is assisting, as well as members of the AFP’s expansive international network,” a spokeswoman said.

“The AFP has already started inquiries in the relevant country, with relevant authorities.”

It comes just days after police confirmed interstate and international partner agencies had been called in to track down the suspect.

Baby Luka suffered serious burns to his face and body after the man poured a Thermos of hot liquid over him while the child was at Hanlon Park with his mother.

Luka and his mother were catching up with a friend and her baby when the man approached them and poured the hot liquid over Luka.

The man then ran off but was captured on nearby CCTV wearing a black cap and button-up shirt.

That CCTV was released by police the following day on Wednesday, August 28.

Family friend and witness of the horrifying attack Zara Mazza has called the 33-year-old attacker “a coward” after he managed to flee the country.

“I don’t understand how anyone could do that, to anyone, let alone a little baby doing nothing,” Ms Mazza told 7 News.

“I think he’s a coward, I think he’s pathetic and he’s the lowest form of human.”

Ms Mazza was sitting beside baby Luka’s mother at the park when the stranger attacked and was furious at learning the suspected had left Australia by the time police identified him.

“We’re going to deal with not feeling safe for a very long time,” she said.

Luka spent more than a week in hospital and endured multiple rounds of surgeries.

He was released from hospital last Wednesday.

A GoFundMe created for Luka and his family has raised more than $140,000 since the incident.

Originally published as Suspect in baby park attack flees country