Tiahleigh Palmer’s accused killer and foster father has woken from an induced coma, a Queensland police spokesperson has confirmed to Mamamia.
Rick Thorburn, 56, collapsed in police custody after he was arrested for the murder of the 12-year-old schoolgirl.
The ABC reported it was a suspected self-harm attempt, and Police ethical standards command is now investigating reports Thorburn swallowed pills while in custody.
His son Trent Thorburn, 19, has been charged with incest, perjury and perverting the course of justice, and was yesterday refused bail in Beenleigh Magistrates Court.
This update comes as new details of Tiahleigh’s murder come to light.
According to Queensland police, her final movements were not what her family claimed when she was first reported missing
Rick Thorburn had told police he last saw the Logan girl when he dropped her at the school gate on October 30, 2015, but prosecutors will allege he had in fact smothered her to death the night before, reports The Courier Mail.
He was arrested on Tuesday and charged with murder and interfering with a corpse, a crime he allegedly carried out as a desperate attempt to cover that his 19-year-old son Trent had committed incest with Palmer.
Palmer’s decomposed body was found by fisherman on the banks of the Pimpama River on November 5, sparking an intensive 11-month investigation which culminated in the arrests of four members of the Thorburn family on Tuesday.
Her foster mother Julene, 54, and the Thorburns’ older son Joshua, 20, have been charged with perjury and perverting the course of justice.
They’re set to face court on October 10. It’s understood Palmer had been in the Thorburns’ care for 10 months prior to her murder.
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Does anyone know what the son is being charged with incest, when he's not biologically related to Tiahleigh (or is he, and i've missed something)? Not being snarky or anything, i would just like to know.
That is the phrase that Mamamia is legally bound to use, and what he has been charged with (not rape or anything). He will (hopefully) receive a harsher sentence for being charged with this, for the crimes he is alleged to have committed.
In QLD, it is classed as incest not only with biologically related family but also step and foster relationships.
Thanks Zep, appreciate the info. I'm only just learning about this (hasn't made US news). All-round awful, hope the poor little girl gets some justice.
Thanks, i appreciate the insight.
Can anyone shed some light for me on why it's the ethical standards command that's investigating this? You'll probably have to employ hypotheticals in your answer in order for it to be legally published, I suspect.
I'm thinking it's because Thorburn is suspected to have swallowed pills in custody. How did he have them or where did he get them?
Regarding your last sentence, don't you think it would be better for this pathetic little creature to be exposed to the world for the toad that he is, and live the rest of his days in fear that everyone he ever meets will know what a revolting little man he is? He will face horrors in jail that no one will give a sh*t about, and will hopefully be there for a long time. I'd prefer that he spend his days suffering to the last, rather than having the easy way out and being able to drift off into a stoned stupor.