A man has been charged with manslaughter following the tragic drowning of a baby at a campsite in Queensland. Jaye Lee Walton, 42, was arrested after the seven-month-old boy was found in a lake at Chatsworth Park, near Gympie, by his mother over the weekend. Walton, who was known to the child, did not need to attend court in person for the first hearing regarding his charge as a domestic violence offence.
During the initial proceedings at the Ipswich Magistrates Court, Walton’s defence lawyer, Mark Butler, indicated plans to apply for bail. The lawyer stated that a consultation would be necessary to determine whether Walton had an entitlement to bail or if he must demonstrate why he should not remain in custody. Butler expressed intentions to make a bail application the following day.
Authorities revealed that the boy’s family was travelling back to Far North Queensland when they camped close to the lake’s shore on Friday night. Early on Saturday morning, the mother discovered her child unresponsive in the water and promptly called emergency services. Despite attempts at CPR, the infant was later declared dead in hospital.
Detectives noted that the mother could not explain how the baby ended up in the lake, leading to an investigation by homicide detectives. Detective Inspector Craig Mansfield described the incident as traumatic for the mother, who retrieved the child from the water.
Following the developments, the police prosecutor did not oppose Butler’s request to adjourn the case for one day. Magistrate Robert Walker subsequently ordered that Walton be remanded in custody and appear in person at the next court session.
This situation has opened discussions around legal proceedings involving domestic violence offences, and the case remains under close scrutiny as it unfolds.