The events that led to a nine-year-old boy being allegedly killed by a blow to the head from a 24-year-old woman are being investigated by detectives, who are looking at whether a weapon was used.
Thai-li Ned was found dead inside a home in the Townsville suburb of Kirwan, about 7.10pm on Saturday after suffering a ‘significant head injury’.
Detective David Miles told reporters what inflicted the blow was ‘certainly, part of our inquiries… the injury is consistent with what, I would say at this stage, appears to be blunt force trauma’.
Schynada Karkadoo has been charged over the alleged murder of the boy, who was living with her and her three children while his mother Tiarne Ned was in jail.
Investigators are looking into whether a wooden plank was allegedly used to kill Thai-li up to eight hours before his body was discovered.
‘We’ll await the outcome of the autopsy before we make an absolute determination of what weapon may have been used,’ Detective Miles said.
He added that police have information as to ‘what may have transpired’ but could not release details during the investigation.
Detective Miles said other children were at home when the blow was allegedly inflicted.
‘Anything involving a traumatic injury and the death of a child, which in circumstances like this occurs, is quite abhorrent,’ he said.
‘No child should be subjected to anything that obviously leads to this sort of outcome for them.’
Police attended the Kirwan home on Saturday night following a welfare check request.
Karkadoo’s case was briefly mentioned in Townsville Magistrates Court on Monday.
A brief of evidence was ordered.
The Kirwan home is expected to remain a crime scene until an autopsy is complete later this week.
Police had previously visited the home several times for unrelated matters.
‘We had had very brief interactions with this young person, but obviously being nine years of age, (he) hadn’t come to our attention for any offending behaviour or anything like that,’ Detective Miles said.
Stuffed animals and sentimental notes have been left at the crime scene in memory of the young boy.
‘You (were) so polite and humble,’ one online tribute read.
Another said: ‘Fly high. You will be sadly missed by us all here in Mount Isa.’
Karkadoo was remanded in custody and her case was adjourned until April 23.