1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:04,359 Speaker 1: Already and this is the Daily This is the Dahlias. 2 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:16,040 Speaker 1: Oh now it makes sense. Good morning and welcome to 3 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:19,480 Speaker 1: the Daily OS. It's Thursday, the thirtieth of January. I'm emma, 4 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 1: I'm Zara, the Queensland social media influencer accused of poisoning 5 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:27,040 Speaker 1: her young daughter has been released on bail after she 6 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 1: was arrested on several charges, including torture. It's also alleged 7 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 1: the woman filmed and posted videos of the child under 8 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 1: distress to quote entice monetary donations and online followers. The 9 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:43,160 Speaker 1: woman has spent the past two weeks in protective custody, 10 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 1: but has now been released as she awaits further proceedings. 11 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 1: Today we'll talk through what we know about this case 12 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 1: and the investigation into the possible role of social media 13 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 1: as a tool to exploit and extort. 14 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 2: And this is one of those stories that I actually 15 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 2: saw online before I saw it in the news headlines. 16 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:08,040 Speaker 2: It's felt like people across social media were talking about 17 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:10,119 Speaker 2: this and then the news kind of picked it up. 18 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:14,320 Speaker 2: We are talking about a Queensland mother who is accused 19 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:17,759 Speaker 2: of harming her child, but also using social media. Hence 20 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 2: why there's been so much interest to deceive her followers. 21 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:24,400 Speaker 2: It is quite a distressing and quite an unusual story. 22 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:26,320 Speaker 2: So can you just tell me a bit about what 23 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:29,040 Speaker 2: we know about the woman at the center of this case. 24 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:32,839 Speaker 1: Yep. So she has been kept anonymous, but the allegations 25 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:35,959 Speaker 1: against her, what she's been charged with, those details have 26 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:39,400 Speaker 1: been made public by Queensland Police. So what we do 27 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 1: know is that she's a thirty four year old Sunshine 28 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 1: Coast mother. She was arrested on several charges earlier this month, 29 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 1: including torture, and it's alleged that she administered unauthorized prescription 30 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 1: and pharmacy medicines to her toddler over the course of 31 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 1: several months last year. Now police are also investigating claims 32 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 1: that the woman filmed and posted videos of the child 33 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:08,079 Speaker 1: under distress to entice monetary donations and to deceive her 34 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 1: online followers. Police have described the child as being a 35 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 1: one year old girl when the alleged crimes occurred. So 36 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 1: we're now talking about a toddler who's about eighteen months old. 37 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 2: So some very serious allegations that you've just rattled off. 38 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 2: There Where did this investigation begin though? 39 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: So it was actually hospital staff who reached out to 40 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 1: police directly. So that's where the investigation came from. In 41 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:35,800 Speaker 1: the first place, healthcare providers were treating this young girl 42 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:39,639 Speaker 1: in a Brisbane hospital in October and there was some 43 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:44,000 Speaker 1: alarm bells raised in the hospital. Police were contacted and 44 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 1: they actually attended the hospital following that call out. So 45 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:52,240 Speaker 1: according to Queensland Police, the toddler reportedly appeared gravely ill 46 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:57,839 Speaker 1: and had a serious medical condition. They then immediately took 47 00:02:57,919 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 1: action to ensure the safety of the child is how 48 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:04,360 Speaker 1: they described it, and commenced an investigation. Now, after a 49 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 1: few months of investigating, that led to eleven charges being 50 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:11,079 Speaker 1: laid against the thirty four year old mother this month. 51 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 2: So that investigation you just said culminated in eleven separate charges. 52 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 2: So what are those charges? Can you just run through 53 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 2: them and explain what they mean. 54 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 1: Yes, So she was charged with five counts of administering 55 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 1: poison with intent to harm. So prosecutors alleged that there 56 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 1: are five instances that they can prove that the mother 57 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:34,639 Speaker 1: administered medication to the daughter to harm her. Three counts 58 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 1: of preparation to commit crimes with dangerous things, So that 59 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 1: relates to an alleged premeditation with these crimes one count 60 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:47,720 Speaker 1: of torture, account of making child exploitation material and one 61 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 1: charge of fraud. Now, in terms of what that means 62 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 1: and what it tells us about this case, police say 63 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 1: they will allege that between the sixth of August last 64 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:00,680 Speaker 1: year and the fifteenth of October, the woman administered prescription 65 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 1: and pharmacy medication so over the counter and prescription meds 66 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 1: to a one year old girl without medical approval. Queensland 67 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 1: Police will also argue that this mother went to lengths 68 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 1: to conceal her continued efforts to administer the unauthorized medication 69 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,279 Speaker 1: until the offense was detected by medical staff and police. 70 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 2: Wow. Okay, and you said there's something I'm interested in 71 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 2: about the child exploitation charges and that goes to I 72 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 2: guess the heart of why so many people are paying 73 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:33,280 Speaker 2: attention to this story, which is the social media element. Yeah, 74 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 2: talk me through that. 75 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 1: Basically, the woman is accused of filming videos and posting 76 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:41,920 Speaker 1: the to social media showing what investigators have described as 77 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:47,599 Speaker 1: a child experiencing quote severe emotional and physical distress and harm. 78 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:51,359 Speaker 1: To basically break down the allegations what they mean in 79 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:54,919 Speaker 1: terms that you know, we would discuss the accusation is 80 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:58,279 Speaker 1: that this mother filmed her daughter posted online to elicit 81 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 1: sympathy a follow allegedly and to encourage people to donate 82 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:07,040 Speaker 1: to a fundraising website to raise money for the treatment 83 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 1: of this child's alleged medical condition. The woman is accused 84 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 1: of raising at least sixty thousand dollars through the public 85 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 1: fundraising platform go fund me. Police are then now working 86 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:22,280 Speaker 1: to return the money to those who donated through the 87 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 1: kindness of their hearts. To use the words of police. 88 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:28,680 Speaker 2: But that is a significant amount of money, really significant. 89 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 2: So you led with the fact that the woman is 90 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 2: currently on trial, and we'll get to that in a moment, 91 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 2: But I am interested in whether or not police have 92 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:39,520 Speaker 2: commented on the welfare of the child who is at 93 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 2: the center of this case. 94 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:43,279 Speaker 1: Yes, so obviously this is a matter before the courts. 95 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 1: Police have been quite guarded with revealing certain details. It's 96 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:50,840 Speaker 1: obviously a sensitive topic and we're also talking about a 97 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:51,920 Speaker 1: very young child. 98 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:54,479 Speaker 2: I'm just going to jump in here. We're not naming 99 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:57,039 Speaker 2: the woman because her name has not been made public 100 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:59,919 Speaker 2: by police either, and so we're following their lead on 101 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 2: and that's because of Queensland laws that we can get 102 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 2: into another time. But this is, as you've just mentioned, 103 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:08,040 Speaker 2: such a sensitive case, so so many things are being 104 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 2: withheld at this time. 105 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, exactly. But what we do know is that the 106 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:15,920 Speaker 1: child was placed into what investigators called a safe position. 107 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 1: Immediately after those initial inquiries were made at the hospital. 108 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:24,359 Speaker 1: Police said they're satisfied the child is safe at present. 109 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 1: They also said that that certainty or satisfaction with safety 110 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 1: extended to siblings. We don't know much more there, but 111 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:36,279 Speaker 1: there could be other children involved. Police have said that quote. 112 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:38,719 Speaker 1: All they can say is the kids are safe. 113 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 2: Okay. So that brings us to this week where the 114 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 2: woman's appeared in court and she's been granted bail. 115 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:48,599 Speaker 1: What's the latest yep, So the accused appeared via video 116 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 1: link in court. There were two days of proceedings this 117 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 1: week in the Brisbane Magistrate's Court to review that bail application. 118 00:06:56,720 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 1: So prosecutors argued against her release from class. They claimed 119 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 1: the woman could pose a risk to her daughter if 120 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:06,280 Speaker 1: she's granted bail, that she could either harm her child 121 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:10,680 Speaker 1: or attempt to interfere with witnesses if released. And during 122 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 1: these proceedings we've learnt a little bit more about the 123 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 1: investigation or the case that police are mounting against her. 124 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 1: Prosecutors claim the child has a non fatal condition called 125 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 1: tubrius sclerosis complex. Now, that is a genetic condition that 126 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 1: causes benign tumors to grow on the body's organs. Now, 127 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 1: when we say benign tumors, we mean non cancerous tumors 128 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 1: as opposed to malignant tumors. But prosecutors accuse the woman 129 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:42,560 Speaker 1: of refusing to accept that the condition her child has 130 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 1: is manageable. They say that instead she has ignored medical 131 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:50,040 Speaker 1: advice around how best to treat the child and gone 132 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:53,679 Speaker 1: about administering drugs that were not appropriate for her daughter. 133 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:57,440 Speaker 1: Prosecutors also told the magistrate this week that the woman's 134 00:07:57,480 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 1: actions have caused the child to have a heart attack. 135 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 1: They also claimed the girl underwent unnecessary brain surgery to 136 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 1: remove the tumors at the request of the mother. 137 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 2: Some very very serious claims being put forward there. But 138 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 2: the woman was granted bails, so presumably there were arguments 139 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 2: against that in order for her to successfully apply for bail. 140 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 2: What were those arguments? 141 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 1: Yes, so her lawyer argued that the client was a 142 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 1: young woman with no criminal history. This solicitor Matthew cus 143 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:32,440 Speaker 1: Kelly suggested the case against the woman is weak, that 144 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:37,679 Speaker 1: it's all based on very circumstantial evidence and allegations, and 145 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:41,240 Speaker 1: he was pushing for her bail under several conditions. So 146 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 1: he had suggested that the woman report to police regularly 147 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 1: where an ankle bracelet, have no contact with the children 148 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 1: except for through supervised video calls. The women's legal team 149 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 1: also though, was quite critical of the way the investigation 150 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 1: has been handled and this subsequent kind of media interest. 151 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 1: They proposed a list of several different residential locations. They 152 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:04,640 Speaker 1: suggested that, you know, the woman should be granted bail 153 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:07,080 Speaker 1: and that she have a list of locations that she 154 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:11,440 Speaker 1: can be moved between for her own protection. Then yesterday 'sarah, 155 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:14,400 Speaker 1: as you mentioned, we got a decision on this bail application. 156 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:18,840 Speaker 1: Deputy Chief Magistrate Stephen Courtney described it as a difficult 157 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:23,200 Speaker 1: decision to wrestle with, but that ultimately he would approve 158 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 1: the bail application. So there are several conditions attached to 159 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 1: this bail being granted. That includes the woman must not 160 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:33,720 Speaker 1: go within one hundred meters of her child. She's to 161 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:37,320 Speaker 1: have no contact unless through supervised means led by the 162 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:40,280 Speaker 1: Department of Child Safety, and that speaks to you know 163 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:42,920 Speaker 1: what the defense lawyers were sort of putting on the 164 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:43,640 Speaker 1: table anyway. 165 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 2: Okay, so for now this woman is free with as 166 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:51,079 Speaker 2: you said, some conditions, but she's not been romanded in custody. 167 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 2: What happens from here, So. 168 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 1: The case has been adjourned until next month. So the 169 00:09:57,040 --> 00:10:00,000 Speaker 1: matter is next before the courts on the nineteenth of theay. 170 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 1: That's when there will be something called a committal mention. 171 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 1: That's a preliminary mention of the case where we might 172 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:11,320 Speaker 1: get some more evidence put forward from investigators. And ultimately 173 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:14,440 Speaker 1: it's at that point that a magistrate will determine if 174 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 1: there is a sufficient case, if there is sufficient evidence 175 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:21,560 Speaker 1: for this matter to proceed to a criminal trial in 176 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:24,440 Speaker 1: a higher court. So we'll kind of await that ruling, 177 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 1: that decision, and from there, you know, we may expect 178 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 1: to see a very high profile, very lengthy trial to follow. 179 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 2: I mean, I just find this so fascinating because it 180 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:36,760 Speaker 2: shows how social media can be the next frontier of 181 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:40,960 Speaker 2: how I guess our judicial system operates and is applied 182 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 2: here in Australia. The alleged crimes were documented online and 183 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 2: on social media, and what role that will play down 184 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:50,800 Speaker 2: the road, will certainly be one to watch, and thank 185 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:52,920 Speaker 2: you so much for explaining that, and thank you for 186 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 2: joining us for another episode of the Daily Yours. We'll 187 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:58,080 Speaker 2: be back later this afternoon with the day's headlines, but 188 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 2: until then, have a great day. My name is Lily 189 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:07,959 Speaker 2: Maddon and I'm a proud Arunda Bunjelung Kalkudin woman from 190 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:12,320 Speaker 2: Gadighl Country. The Daily oz acknowledges that this podcast is 191 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:14,839 Speaker 2: recorded on the lands of the Gadighl people and pays 192 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:18,080 Speaker 2: respect to all Aboriginal and torrest Rate island and nations. 193 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:21,320 Speaker 2: We pay our respects to the first peoples of these countries, 194 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 2: both past and present.