The man who allegedly poured scalding coffee on a nine-month-old baby escaped overseas less than a day before he was identified by detectives, Queensland police say.
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a 33-year-old foreign national accused of the alleged attack at Hanlon Park in Stones Corner on 27 August, with Australian Federal Police assisting in the investigation.
Det Insp Paul Dalton from the South Brisbane district Child Protection Investigation Unit, said the man was now believed to be overseas after flying out of Sydney airport on 31 August.
Dalton said the man was identified by Queensland police on 1 September – just 12 hours later.
“This is probably one of the most complex and sometimes frustrating investigations that I’ve had to be involved in and lead,” he said.
Dalton said the police were initially given the wrong name for the alleged assailant.
“It soon became apparent to us that this person was aware of police methodologies, was certainly conducting counter-surveillance activities, which made the investigation quite complex,” he said.
“It wasn’t until the first of September that we were able to put a name to the face and the CCTV. Even at that stage, we probably didn’t have enough evidence to obtain a warrant.”
Outside the Queensland Children’s hospital, where her son has undergone skin graft surgeries to treat significant burns, the boy’s mother said she was “devastated” to learn the “heartbreaking” news that the alleged assailant had just managed to escape the country.
“It sounds like they were very, very close in catching him,” she said.
“I just want to know why, why he [allegedly] did this? These are questions that may always be unanswered.”
The baby’s physical healing would take “years”, she said, but the family might never fully recover from the mental scars.
“For me, personally, I’ve been living in fear, anxiety, stress,” she said.
“I had no idea where this person was. I didn’t want to leave this hospital because it became our safe space.
“Returning home, I had panic attacks, and still continue to do so … I will always have fear and anxiety being out in public with my son – it’s affected my mental health for the rest of my life.
“It should be a happy, joyful time, I’m a first time mum.
“Honestly, I cry every single day.”
The motive for the alleged attack was still unknown.
But the boy’s mother told press she had since seen a photo of the accused man without his hat, glasses and “outfit” and would not have recognised him.
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The man was an itinerant worker who had been coming and going from Australia since about 2019, and had addresses in New South Wales and Victoria, Dalton said.
He was not known to police and had no charges against his name.
Dalton said the police could not identify to the public which country the man had fled to, but investigators were in contact with authorities from the foreign country.
“The QPS are fully committed to do everything we possibly can lawfully to get this person back here to face justice,” Dalton said.
The infant underwent his third round of surgery on 3 September after the “cowardly” and random alleged attack in a Brisbane park.
The family said the little boy had been incredibly resilient despite the “traumatic and difficult” time. “He’s up and about, walking and causing chaos,” his mother said. “He is such a strong little boy and we are so, so proud of him.”
But the family is still seeking justice as the police investigation enters its third week.
“This horrific event should have never happened,” the mother said. “Hopefully one day justice will be served.”
Police previously described the alleged attack as deliberate and unprovoked.
“It is callous and cowardly,” Det Insp Paul Dalton said. “In 35 years of being a police officer, I’ve never come across a job where a child this young in these circumstances has been attacked.”
The man was wearing glasses, a blue shirt, cargo shorts and a black hat. He is believed to be aged between 30 and 40.
A GoFundMe page for the infant has so far raised more than $150,000.
The boy’s father thanked the public for the outpouring of financial and emotional support.
“We have felt the love,” he said.