Man found guilty of murdering 2-year-old boy found with brain injury

A 40-year-old man has been convicted of murdering a two-year-old boy on the New South Wales Mid North Coast in 2022. The verdict was delivered by a jury in the New South Wales Supreme Court after four weeks of evidence and four days of deliberation.

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The jury returned a guilty verdict on Monday after deliberating for four days.

The child was found unresponsive by his mother on May 23, 2022, at a home in Coffs Harbour. He was flown to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, where he died two days later from a catastrophic brain injury. Medical examinations revealed the toddler had a fractured pelvis, ribs, and bruising on his body, including his penis.

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He was flown to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, where he died of a catastrophic brain injury two days later.

The man, who was living with the child's mother at the time of the death, faced accusations of murder. Evidence presented during the trial suggested the accused disciplined the child by locking him in a dark garage, placing him in the bath, and removing his mattress and pillow. Experts testified that the child's injuries were unlikely to have resulted from a fall or head-banging episode, indicating they were inflicted.

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the injuries were inflicted.

Justice Philip Boulten denied the offender bail, citing the high risk of flight following a murder conviction. The defense had requested bail for the man to attend to personal matters and due to his medical conditions, which include "episodic changes of consciousness or fits." The judge stated that corrective services would need to accommodate his medical needs. The man will be sentenced on October 30.

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no-one had ever admitted to inflicting an assault on the young boy as it was a circumstantial case.