1. Tiahleigh’s foster mother to plead guilty and will be witness for prosecution.
The foster family of Tiahleigh Palmer has split, with two members agreeing to appear as prosecution witnesses.
Julene Thorburn, 54, and her son Josh, 20, were mentioned in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court yesterday after they were last month charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The Brisbane Times reports they will plead guilty at their next appearance on November 21 and will both act as witnesses for the prosecution.
Julene Thorburn’s partner Rick, 56, has been charged with Tiahleigh’s murder, while her other son Trent, 19, is also behind bars and faces an incest charge.
Police will allege that Rick Thorburn killed Tiahleigh in a bid to cover up the alleged crimes of his son Trent.
The lawyer for Julene and Rick, Jason Jacobson said outside court, “Albeit late, they are now giving their complete co-operation to the police investigation, and what’s more is that they now have taken the step of agreeing to be prosecution witnesses and will give evidence about everything they know.”
“You can take it from that theirs is very much a family divided.”
2. Toddler bitten by snake will need care for the rest of his life.
The two-year-old boy bitten by a taipan in his family’s chicken pen at Agnes Waters will need care for the rest of his life.
Eli Campell was bitten by the snake while collecting eggs last week. His father Giles says Eli has significant swelling on the brain, can not see and may never walk again, two weeks after being bitten three times by a coastal taipan.
“We know this boy of our’s will need some care for the rest of his life, how much will be up to him and the best rehabilitation we can find … and yes we still hope for miracles,” Eli’s dad wrote on a fundraising page.