A Queensland court has heard that the foster brother of murdered school girl Tiahleigh Palmer feared he she was pregnant.
Tiahleigh’s foster brother Trent Thorburn, 19, was denied bail during an appearance at Beenleigh Magistrates Court this morning, where he fronted Magistrate Pamela Dowse on charges of incest, attempting to pervert the course of justice and perjury.
In arguing against his bail, prosecutors today alleged that Thorburn had confided in his cousin via a Facebook message, in which he expressed concern that he’d impregnated the 12-year-old, reports The Courier Mail.
The court also heard allegations that Tiahleigh had told both a friend and her foster mother, Julene Thorbun, about the alleged incest.
The prosecutor stated that the 19-year-old man had “abused his position as big brother” and that Tiahleigh’s “young life” was taken as a consequence, according to The Courier Mail.
It comes after foster father Richard Thorburn, 56, was charged with murder and interfering with a corpse over the 12-year-old’s death last year.
Trent Thorburn, 19. Image: Instagram.
Tiahleigh’s decomposed body was found by fisherman on the banks of the Pimpama River in November last year, several days after she was last seen alive at Marsden State High School, south of Brisbane.
The ensuing 11-month investigation involved more than 50 police and culminated in the arrests of four members of the Thorburn family yesterday.
Julene Thorburn and her 20-year-old son Josh have been charged with perjury and preventing the course of justice.
The pair have been bailed to appear in Beenleigh Magistrates court on October 10.
