A MAN charged with the murder of an 11-month-old baby girl has been refused bail following a brief appearance before Bathurst Local Court yesterday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The baby died last Wednesday after being taken to Blayney Hospital by the man, who later told police she suffered head injuries after falling from a trampoline at their family home in Mandurama.
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad and Chifley local area command officers formed Strike Force Zarebski to investigate the incident.
After making a number of inquiries, and receiving the results of post- mortem examinations, police arrested the man outside Bathurst police station on Wednesday afternoon.
He was subsequently charged with one count of murder and was refused bail to appear before the Bathurst Local Court registrar just after 9.30am yesterday.
The accused, who was wearing a white T-shirt and black tracksuit pants, sat in the dock quietly during the brief proceeding.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Brett Donaghy told the court the accused’s solicitor had indicated there would be no application made for bail, which was confirmed by the defendant’s solicitor Tim Cain.
The registrar read the facts relating to the alleged injuries and subsequent death of the child.
He noted there was no application for bail and formally refused it, saying there were some grounds for consideration for charges against the defendant.
Sgt Donaghy then asked to have the accused re-appear in person on Monday as he would be represented by Legal Aid solicitor Leigh Haywood, who had not yet had the opportunity to take instructions from him.
The registrar accepted the request and set the matter down for mention on Monday, April 14.
The Western Advocate yesterday received legal advice not to identify the accused or deceased child in this case.