A social media influencer allegedly gave her baby multiple drugs that caused a cardiac arrest as part of a plan to gain fame and money online, a magistrate has heard.
Warning: some readers may find the content of this article disturbing.
Queensland Police have accused the woman of filming the torture of her one-year-old infant after administering drugs to worsen the symptoms of her brain tumours.
The 34-year-old woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, applied for bail in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
She appeared in person wearing a light blue dress and leather sandals while being supervised by two corrective services guards.
The woman sat with her hands in her lap, facing directly towards the magistrate while confined to the dock.
Crown prosecutor Jack Scott opposed bail and told Magistrate Stephen Courtney the woman posed an unacceptable risk of offending or interfering with witnesses if released.
Mr Scott said the woman did not accept that her infant had a manageable and non-fatal condition.
“Her actions have created a serious extra symptom … on one occasion a code blue cardiac arrest requiring resuscitation,” he said.
Mr Courtney heard the infant had been hospitalised for tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a genetic condition that results in benign tumours in multiple organs.
Mr Scott said on October 3, 2024 the woman had moved a video camera that was monitoring the infant during a brain activity test “to avoid detection” of her actions.
“She was captured on footage with a syringe. She administered via the nasogastric tube (attached to the infant). She used the opportunity while hidden by a blanket,” he said.
“About 30 to 40 minutes after this incident (the infant) was rendered completely unconscious.”
Mr Scott said these unconscious periods were not symptoms of TSC and were deeply concerning to the infant’s doctors, who then brought forward a risky procedure to remove the tumours.
“This child would not have faced (two rounds of brain) surgeries at this point in time but for this manufacturing of symptoms,” the prosecutor said.
Police accuse the woman of giving the infant unauthorised prescription and pharmacy medications between August and October to grow her social media profile and gain $60,000 in donations.
The woman was remanded in custody at her first court appearance on January 17 following her arrest in a suburb south of Brisbane.
She was charged with administering poison with intent to harm, four counts of administering poison with intent to harm and endangering life, making child exploitation material, three counts of preparation to commit crimes, and torture.
Mr Scott said the woman had access to five types of non-prescribed drugs that were allegedly administered to the infant.
Defence solicitor Mathew Cuskelly said an email from health authorities stated the child “continues to present symptoms” of seizures.
Mr Cuskelly submitted that his client had never been found guilty of any crime and was facing a court case that might last two or three years.
“My client is entitled to a fair trial. Police have the onus to establish beyond reasonable doubt,” he said.
“Police are far from being able to establish that at this point in time.”
Mr Cuskelly said the prosecution case might appear strong but further investigation might show otherwise.
“The risks can be sufficiently ameliorated,” he said about bail conditions.
Mr Courtney said he would not be able to come to a decision on Tuesday due to the complexity of the allegations and adjourned the bail application to Wednesday.
“It’s a strong prosecution case as I sit here now based on what I have got,” he said.
“I need to be careful not to be overwhelmed by the fact the allegations (the woman) is facing are so offensive to right-thinking people.”
Mr Cuskelly said outside court that the woman was doing well in custody and declined to comment on the case.
Lifeline 13 11 14; Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
