news

A Brisbane influencer was charged with drugging her own baby. Now we have new details.

The mother's face has been blurred by Queensland Police in order to protect the identity of the child.

A social media influencer who was charged with torture after she allegedly gave prescription medicines to her one-year-old girl without medical approval for months has been granted bail.

The woman allegedly gave her baby multiple drugs that caused a cardiac arrest as part of a plan to gain fame and money online, a court has been told.

The 34-year-old woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was granted bail in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

She appeared via videolink sitting at a table wearing a long blue shirt with her arms crossed.

Magistrate Stephen Courtney had adjourned the bail application decision on Tuesday, saying it was a complex case.

Queensland Police have accused the woman of filming the torture of her one-year-old infant after administering drugs to worsen the symptoms of her brain tumours.

Crown prosecutor Jack Scott opposed bail on Tuesday and told Courtney the woman posed an unacceptable risk of offending or interfering with witnesses if released.

Scott said the woman did not accept that her infant had a manageable and non-fatal condition.

"Her actions have created a serious extra symptom… on one occasion a code blue cardiac arrest requiring resuscitation," he said.

Courtney was told the infant had been hospitalised for tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a genetic condition that results in benign tumours in multiple organs.

ADVERTISEMENT

Scott said on October 3, 2024 the woman had moved a video camera that was monitoring the infant during a brain activity test "to avoid detection" of her actions.

"She was captured on footage with a syringe. She administered via the nasogastric tube (attached to the infant). She used the opportunity while hidden by a blanket," he said.

"About 30 to 40 minutes after this incident (the infant) was rendered completely unconscious."

Scott said these unconscious periods were not symptoms of TSC and were deeply concerning to the infant's doctors, who then brought forward a risky procedure to remove the tumours.

"This child would not have faced (two rounds of brain) surgeries at this point in time but for this manufacturing of symptoms," the prosecutor said.

Police accuse the woman of giving the infant unauthorised prescription and pharmacy medications between August and October to grow her social media profile and gain $60,000 in donations.

Police say she concealed her efforts to give the child medicine until it was reported to police by hospital staff in Brisbane's south when the little girl was admitted in October.

After officers were alerted to the allegations, they tested the child for unauthorised medication, which returned a positive result on January 7.

The woman was arrested in a suburb south of Brisbane on January 16 and was remanded in custody at her first court appearance on January 17.

ADVERTISEMENT

She was charged with administering poison with intent to harm, four counts of administering poison with intent to harm and endangering life, making child exploitation material, three counts of preparation to commit crimes, and torture.

Scott said the woman had access to five types of non-prescribed drugs that were allegedly administered to the infant.

Defence solicitor Mathew Cuskelly said an email from health authorities stated the child "continues to present symptoms" of seizures.

Cuskelly submitted that his client had never been found guilty of any crime and was facing a court case that might last two or three years.

"My client is entitled to a fair trial. Police have the onus to establish beyond reasonable doubt," he said.

"Police are far from being able to establish that at this point in time."

Cuskelly said the prosecution case might appear strong but further investigation might show otherwise.

"The risks can be sufficiently ameliorated," he said about bail conditions.

On Wednesday, Courtney said the police case was strong and the offending serious.

If the woman was convicted the sentence would be several years including time served, the magistrate said.

"It is not the law that just because there's a strong crown case and because I think imprisonment will flow if a person is convicted that person will or should remain in custody," Courtney said.

ADVERTISEMENT

In granting bail, Courtney said the prosecution's argument that the woman posed a risk to the safety of the victim was dependent on her having physical access.

He said it was unlikely she would interfere with witnesses and there was no "particularisation" of threats from the community.

Courtney estimated a trial for the case would be at least two years away unless the woman pleaded guilty then the matter would proceed quicker.

"I have wrestled with this," he said in granting bail.

"It is one of the difficult parts of my job deciding whether to deprive someone's liberty if they have yet been convicted of that offence."

He granted bail on the conditions she must not approach within 100 metres of the infant, and her only contact with the baby would be by audiovisual means and supervised by child safety.

Courtney asked the woman whether she understood the bail conditions and she replied that she did.

Defence lawyer Mathew Cuskelly declined to comment to media outside the court after his client was granted bail. On Tuesday, he said that the woman was doing well in custody.

If you find yourself needing to talk to someone after reading this story, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

For children and young adults, Kids Helpline is available on 1800 551 800.

Feature image: Queensland Police.

00:00 / ???