Images showing the horrific injuries of a 16-month-old boy who was brutally murdered has reduced an experienced reporter to tears.
Mason Parker suffered a 17cm skull fracture, more than 50 bruises and a ruptured bowel when he was killed by his mother’s lover Troy Reed in Townsville in 2011.
Filing a report for Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes program, veteran journalist Allison Langdon burst into tears when police showed her images of the child.
The photos were taken at accident emergency the night Mason was murdered. They were too graphic to be shown on television.
‘That’s really awful,’ Ms Langdon said, fighting back tears. ‘That poor little body.’
Filing a report for Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes program, veteran journalist Allison Langdon burst into tears when she saw images of Mason Parker, who was killed Townsville in 2011
Mason’s killer made a chilling phone call to triple-0 just moments after the murder, claiming he didn’t know what was wrong with the child.
‘He’s just not responding. He’s turning blue,’ Reed was heard saying in an audio clip aired on the program.
The operator told Reed emergency services would be there as quickly as possible.
He was heard calling the child’s name: ‘Mason, what do I do?’ Mason? Mason?’
By the time paramedics arrived, the child was dead. Reed later claimed that Mason had suffered the horrific injuries after falling off his bed.
Mason (left) was killed by his mother’s lover Troy Reed (right) while he looked after the toddler in Townsville in 2011. Reed is pictured in a police interview where he tells officers the child suffered horrific injuries after falling off his bed
‘That’s really awful,’ Ms Langdon said, fighting back tears. ‘That poor little body’
Reed called triple-0 claiming he didn’t know what was wrong with Mason. By the time paramedics arrived, the child was dead
Childcare workers informed Mason’s mother about severe bruising he had suffered in the months prior to his death, but she continued to let Reed care for the boy alone
‘He was up on the bed and he’s fallen,’ Reed was heard saying in a police interview shown on the program.
‘I don’t think he realised actually how close he was to the edge of the bed. And he’s come down, and as he’s come down he’s hit his head.
‘I picked him up and he fell onto my chest… I rang the ambulance.’
Reed was sentenced to life imprisonment with no parole for at least 15 years in 2013 after he was found guilty of murder and assault occasioning grievous bodily harm.
Reed (pictured) was sentenced to life imprisonment with no parole for at least 15 years in 2013 after he was found guilty of murder and assault occasioning grievous bodily harm
Mason’s mother Cindy Sandeman (pictured) met Reed in 2010 and months later, they were living together in Townsville
The innocent child suffered horrific injuries, including a 17cm skull fracture, more than 50 bruises and a ruptured bowel
Mason’s mother Cindy Sandeman met Reed in 2010 and months later, they were living together in Townsville.
‘He came across as a nice, caring man,’ she told 60 Minutes.
Childcare workers informed Ms Sandeman about severe bruising Mason had suffered in the months prior to his death, but she continued to let Reed care for the boy alone.
‘Hindsight is a beautiful thing,’ Ms Sandeman said.
‘It was something I didn’t contemplate. It didn’t enter my mind. I did the best I could.’
‘It was something I didn’t contemplate. It didn’t enter my mind. I did the best I could,’ Ms Sandeman said
Mason’s grandparents Sue and John Sandeman believe child care centres could have saved their grandson’s life
Just three days after Mason’s death, Ms Sandeman agreed to marry Reed.
‘You know it wasn’t about the wedding,’ she said. ‘It was about him making sure I was there with him staying on his side, not talking to the police.’
Mason’s grandparents Sue and John Sandeman believe child care centres could have saved their grandson’s life.
The couple have not spoken to their daughter since the day Mason died.
Toddler Mason Parker (pictured) was killed by his mother’s lover Troy Reed in April 2011
Mason’s grandfather John Sandeman (above) says he will never forgive his daughter