Police have revealed shocking new details about the alleged murder of a nine-year-old boy in the Townsville suburb of Kirwan on Saturday.
It is understood that 24-year-old Kirwan woman Schynada Karkadoo, who has been charged with his murder, was his carer and that the boy had been staying with her for some time.
Police say the boy could have received the fatal injury up to eight hours before emergency services were called and that the woman’s children were present at the Charles Street property when the alleged violence took place.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The boy was discovered dead at about 7.10pm after a relative of the woman alerted police and ambulance officers.
Police say he could have received the head injury up to eight hours beforehand, with an autopsy expected to reveal his exact time of death.
Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Miles said the alleged weapon had not been formally identified. However, the boy had suffered a significant head injury, which appeared to be the result of blunt-force trauma.
“We will await the outcome of an autopsy later this week to give us the definitive actual injuries sustained and what the cause of the death was,” he said at a press conference on Monday.
Det. Sen-Sgt Miles said there were “loose family connections” between the woman and the boy.
“They are known to each other. The young person had been staying at that location for a period of time, cared for by the 24-year-old woman who has been charged. Our investigations are ongoing in relation to those arrangements and the formality of any care agreements in place.
“There are loose family connections there but not definitive relationship in terms of an aunt or uncle or anything like that.”
Det. Sen-Sgt Miles said it had been a confronting scene and investigations were continuing.
“Anything involving a traumatic injury or the death of a child, which in circumstance like this a death occurs, you know it is quite abhorrent.
“No child should be subjected to anything that obviously leads to this sort of outcome for them, and it’s totally understandable that the community would be quite upset.”
The 24-year-old woman is expected to appear in Townsville Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Young people seeking support can phone beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or go to headspace.org.au.