Man who jumped into Logan river with baby son while high jailed for manslaughter.

By LOUISA REBGETZ

A father who drowned his baby in the Logan River south of Brisbane while high on drugs and suffering a psychotic condition has been sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in jail after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

David Paul Fisher, 42, had consumed mescaline and cannabis and was suffering a psychiatric condition when he took his six-month-old son Elijah for a walk in June 2012.

He jumped 10 metres into the Logan River with the infant in his arms, and made the intentional decision to push him away knowing he would drown.

Fisher surfaced from the water without Elijah, and reported the baby missing on his return home.

Psychiatric assessments stated that Fisher was suffering from severe psychosis and delusional, and that he had formed the opinion that his son must die.

More than three years after his son’s drowning, Fisher told the court he was haunted by the loss.

“I’m very remorseful and I cry for my baby boy every night,” he said.

Supreme Court Justice Ann Lyons sentenced Fisher to seven-and-a-half years in jail on Monday.

Having served three-and-a-half years, he will be eligible for parole on December 22.

This post originally appeared on ABC News.

© 2015 Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.
Read the ABC Disclaimer here.