A broken mother has shared a moving last photo of her baby hours before his death, as his father awaits trial accused of brutally beating the toddler over a year ago.
Erica Lawrence, 21, said while she was heartbroken, she was happy that her one-year-old son Nathaniel was no longer suffering.
‘When he did go, he was surrounded by loved ones, and it was nice to know that he’s not suffering any more,’ Ms Lawrence told 7News.
After an entire year living with injuries allegedly sustained from his father’s abuse, little Nathaniel died at his Golden Bay home on Perth’s outskirts on Sunday night.
A mother shared the last photo she took of her baby, as his father awaits his trial accused of beating the newborn so badly he was left blind and catastrophically brain damaged
Nathaniel (pictured) was just six weeks-old when he was allegedly beaten and suffered serious injuries
Homicide detectives have now stepped in to determine whether his death is linked to the assault from October 9 2017.
‘Most of all, I’m really going to miss him. He brought so much joy,’ his aunt, Cheyenne, said.
At the time of the attack, he was taken to Narrogin Regional Hospital before he was transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital and later released.
Nathaniel suffered bleeding on the brain and blindness as a result of the alleged assault.
Nathaniel’s father, Michael Ashley MacRae (pictured) was charged with grievous bodily harm at the time
His father, Michael Ashley MacRae, 25, was charged with grievous bodily harm at the time of the incident.
He pleaded not guilty and is currently behind bars awaiting a trial allocation.
A Go Fund Me page was created for Nathaniel, with the intention of giving him the send off that he deserves.
They have currently raised $770 of their $8,000 goal to provide Nathaniel with a funeral.
‘[Erica] is financially unable to cover funeral costs for her baby. Please help us lay this beautiful baby to rest and let his mum and sister and family focus on grieving,’ it reads.
‘He was always full of smiles, even though he endured so much,’ his mother said.
Police say the investigation is ongoing and while a cause of death has not been released they allege it is linked to injuries suffered last year.
No further arrests or charges have been made at this stage.
Nathaniel MacRae (pictured) has died almost a year after he was allegedly assaulted by his father
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