A man accused of pouring boiling coffee on a baby in Brisbane, Australia, fled the country on Monday hours before police were able to identify him.
The attack on nine-month-old Luka triggered a manhunt by international and Australian police, who suspect the assailant has knowledge of official surveillance.
The mother was having a picnic with the baby in Hanlon Park in the south east of the city on Aug 27 when the suspect approached them and poured a flask of hot coffee over the infant.
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He then fled on foot, leaving the child with serious burns to his face, arms and legs – and requiring four operations in Queensland Children’s Hospital, the Daily Mail reported.
Police were able to identify the man as a 33-year-old itinerant worker who had visited Australia on various visas since 2019, last entering the country in January 2022.
However, by the time he had been identified, police discovered the man had already fled the country.
Det Insp Paul Dalton of Queensland Police said: “It wasn’t until Sep 1 that we were able to put a name to the face in the CCTV.
He explained: “I was in the investigation centre when we put a name to the face and it was a very happy room, only for us to do a check in 15 minutes and find out we lost him.”
Det Insp Dalton said the man left the country from Sydney airport using his own passport the day before police confirmed his identity, having been staying in New South Wales.
‘Aware of police methods’
To protect the investigation, Det Insp Dalton declined to name the suspect or his destination, but said the man was “aware” of police methods and was using “counter-surveillance” techniques to avoid detection, making the investigation “complex”.
An arrest warrant has been issued for acts intending to cause grievous bodily harm, which carries a possible life sentence.
“I’m continually scratching my head. We can’t find a motive,” Detective Inspector Dalton said. “A rational, normal person, you would think, wouldn’t do something like that.”
Luka’s parents, who requested anonymity, said they were “devastated” to hear the man had fled.
“It sounds like they were very, very close in catching him, and this obviously means that we’re going to have to wait who knows how long to get justice for our son,” the mother told the Australian Broadcasting Company.
