Alleged murderer Alicia Jane Lee awaits medical report into Rockhampton toddler’s death

A magistrate concerned about the delay in gathering evidence about the alleged murder of a toddler two years ago has demanded police return to court with a timeframe on a vital document.

Rockhampton Court House.

A magistrate concerned about the two-year delay in evidence gathering in an alleged murder case has issued an order in to get the last police piece of evidence – a medical report – disclosed to defence lawyers.

Alicia Jane Lee was charged with murder after the death of her two-year-old stepson Logan Shaun Hawkins in February, 2022.

Logan died on January 19, 2022, the day after emergency services were called to a Frenchville address and he was rushed to Rockhampton Hospital, and then airlifted to Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane.

He died from a traumatic brain injury.

Rockhampton Magistrates Court heard an update on the case on April 17.

The court had heard in February that the report in question – the pediatric report by the doctor who last treated Logan and turned off his life support – had been delayed waiting for the pathologist report.

Police prosecutor Brandon Selic told the court on that occasion he had been advised of a “vague timeframe” for the report’s completion within the first half of this year.

This week, Mr Selic said he had further been advised the pediatrician “was aware of her statement backlog, she has been trying to complete these, however has had very little time to do so due to heavy clinical and on-call requirements” and “she has also had leave in this period”.

Ms Lee’s defence lawyer Natasha Bates from Legal Aid advised the court the defence team were waiting on that pediatric report for the matter to progress.

“We will then engage our own expert,” she said.

Magistrate Grace Kahlert said she was concerned about the length of the delays in this matter and directed prosecutors to advise the court of a time when the report would be available at the next court mention, on May 27.

Ms Lee, who was not required to attend court this month, is on Supreme Court bail and living in the Brisbane area.

During the bail application on August 12, 2022, Crown prosecutor Aleksandra Nikolic said significant force was required to have resulted in the injuries identified by the doctor.

She said it was alleged Ms Lee was the only adult with Logan at the time the fatal injuries were inflicted.

Ms Lee’s bail conditions include no contact with Crown witnesses and no contact with children under the age of 10 without supervision.

No plea has been entered.

Originally published as Alleged murderer Alicia Jane Lee awaits medical report into Rockhampton toddler’s death