In Australia, Man Pours Hot Coffee on Baby
AUSTRALIA – The search for a man who allegedly poured hot coffee on a baby in Brisbane has become international after he left the country. The incident occurred on August 27, when the man, dressed in a black hat, glasses, a shirt, and shorts, threw scalding coffee on a nine-month-old baby at Hanlon Park. The baby suffered severe burns to his chin, neck, chest, and back. Following the attack, the man fled the scene.
On August 31, four days after the incident, the suspect left Australia. Queensland police’s Detective Inspector Paul Dalton announced on September 9 that they are collaborating with international authorities to locate the 33-year-old foreign national. The suspect had driven from Queensland into New South Wales and then flown out of Sydney Airport to an undisclosed location.
Early investigations were hampered by incorrect information about the suspect’s identity. It wasn’t until September 1 that police matched the suspect’s name to the face seen in CCTV footage. However, the man had already left Sydney just 12 hours before his identity was confirmed.
Inspector Dalton revealed that the suspect had conducted counter-surveillance, complicating the investigation. The man had entered Australia multiple times on various visas since 2019, with his most recent entry in January 2022. His motive for the attack remains unknown. To protect the investigation, police are withholding the suspect’s name and destination.
Queensland Police Service has issued an arrest warrant for the suspect, charging him with acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, which carries a potential life sentence. The baby has undergone several skin graft surgeries, and a GoFundMe campaign has raised over A$150,000 (S$130,400) for his medical expenses.
Immediately after the attack, an off-duty nurse assisted the baby before he was taken to Queensland Children’s Hospital. The baby’s parents expressed their heartbreak over the suspect’s escape and ongoing anxiety about their safety. They fear it will take a long time to achieve justice for their son, and the father noted that the baby’s recovery will be a lengthy process.
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