The sentencing hearing of a Gold Coast mother who pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her four-year-old son Tyrell Cobb has been shown confronting post-mortem pictures of the child’s bruised body.
Heidi Strbak appeared in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday as her contested sentencing hearing began before Justice Peter Applegarth.
The court was shown a series of graphic photographs during the evidence of pathologist Dr Beng Beng Ong, depicting various bruises and abrasions on the child’s face and body.
Gold Coast mother Heidi Strbak, who has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her son Tyrell Cobb (pictured), has been shown confronting post-mortem pictures of the four-year-old’s body
Strbak (pictured) appeared in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday as her contested sentencing hearing began before Justice Peter Applegarth
Strbak’s plea comes just weeks after her ex-partner Matthew Scown (pictured) was sentenced to four years’ jail for manslaughter but walked from court, having already spent two years and eight months in custody
Asked by crown prosecutor Phil McCarthy about one of the markings, Dr Ong agreed it was consistent with the application of blunt force, such as a slap.
He said another marking on the child’s lower leg was of a shape fairly consistent with the end of a cigarette lighter.
The court has heard Strbak pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the basis of criminal negligence.
But the prosecution is arguing Strbak inflicted the blunt force trauma that caused her son’s death.
In a brief opening address, Strbak’s barrister Greg McGuire said there were three people – Strbak, her then-partner Matthew Scown and her brother – who could have had the opportunity to cause the injury or injuries.
However, all three ‘vehemently denied’ doing so and there was not enough evidence to find any of them responsible, the court heard.
The child (pictured) was found unconscious at a Gold Coast property and later died in hospital in May 2009
The court was shown a series of graphic photographs during the evidence of pathologist Dr Beng Beng Ong (pictured), depicting various bruises and abrasions on the child’s face and body
Mr McGuire said the defence position wouldn’t be that Justice Applegarth could rule decisively who inflicted a fatal blow.
Rather, he said they would argue the judge could not be satisfied to the necessary standard it was the boy’s mother who inflicted the injury.
Strbak’s plea comes just weeks after her ex-partner Scown was sentenced to four years’ jail for manslaughter but walked from court, having already spent two years and eight months in custody.
The child was found unconscious at a Gold Coast property and later died in hospital in May 2009.
The hearing is expected to run for three days.
The hearing is expected to run for three days (pictured is Strbak and her lawyer)