Parents Questioned Over 'Inconsistencies' in Evidence Surrounding Infant Twins' Deaths

A coronial inquest is examining the deaths of infant twins in Far North Queensland, with particular focus on "inconsistencies in evidence" provided by their parents. The 18-week-old boys, born prematurely at 27 weeks' gestation, died in their home in late 2021. They had been receiving oxygen therapy at home for approximately one month prior to their deaths.

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There were a number of inconsistencies in evidence which have not been addressed.

Coroner Melinda Zerner highlighted several unexplained details during the inquest. The parents, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, stated they were asleep until the father discovered the deceased babies around mid-morning. The mother reported bathing the infants and putting them to sleep around 8 or 9 p.m. in the parents' room, with herself going to sleep about midnight. The father claimed he was awake later, playing computer games and watching movies in the same room where the babies slept, falling asleep around 1:30 or 2 a.m.

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They were stiff and cold, and I tried resuscitating them.

However, security camera footage from a neighbor showed a man retrieving a sheet from a clothesline outside the house around 3 a.m. The father, while unable to recall the specific action, confirmed he was the only adult male upstairs at the time. Furthermore, the parents' shared mobile phone data showed usage between 3:18 a.m. and 5:55 a.m., which neither parent could account for, stating they were asleep and did not use the phone.

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I can't remember using my phone at that time.

The coroner also questioned the father about why the babies were not fed for over 12 hours prior to their death, from 9 p.m. until 11 a.m. the next day. The father stated he could not explain this lack of feeding. The inquest continues as the coroner seeks to clarify these discrepancies and understand the circumstances surrounding the twins' deaths.

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Someone was awake using the phone in that room.