BABY ‘WAS THROWN IN RIVER ALIVE’
POLICE believe the ninemonth-old baby found dead on Surfers Paradise beach was still alive when she was allegedly thrown into the Tweed River by her father.
The baby was found dead early on Monday morning, November 19, and her 47-yearold dad was charged with her murder on the Thursday.
Yesterday, NSW Police chief detective inspector of the Homicide Squad Wayne Walpole did not rule out charging the baby girl’s 23year-old mother, saying “the investigation is ongoing”.
Police divers, Riot and Public Response officers and Water Police searched in and around the Tweed River again yesterday.
“We have a number of items of interest, in particular a black and red chequered blanket,” he said.
“Our investigations show us these people with that blanket at certain times and we believe after the baby is murdered that blanket is no longer in their possession.”
A police source said it was believed the baby was alive when she was allegedly thrown into the river between 6pm and 7pm.
That won’t be proven until the autopsy report from the Queensland Coroner is released.
At the time there was a large thunderstorm and heavy rain. Insp Walpole asked for help from lightning watchers who may have been looking over the river at the time.
Court documents allege the family – two parents, the baby and a two-year-old son – were sheltering from the rain at the rear of the Tweed Mall car park when the father told the mother he was taking the baby to an elder, but murdered her instead by throwing her into the Tweed River.
The man was arrested two days later at Broadbeach after police were called to a domestic violence incident.
A NSW police source said nothing of interest was found during yesterday’s search.