A man accused of throwing hot coffee on a defenceless nine-month-old baby at a Brisbane park could still be found despite fears he may have fled overseas.
Queensland Police have been working with partner agencies around the world amid fears the man responsible for the sickening attack has fled interstate or the country.
Little Luka Burgic had been on a picnic with his mother, Erna, in Hanlon Park, in inner south east Brisbane, when the man approached them at about midday on August 27 and poured a thermos of scalding coffee over the infant before fleeing.
The baby suffered life-threatening burns to his face, upper body and arms and as a result of the unprovoked attack has undergone four operations in Queensland Children’s Hospital.
There are serious concerns the unknown assailant is trying to evade justice by hiding out abroad.
But former investigator Charlie Bezzina said the man’s act was so heinous it was only a matter of time before he was apprehended – and that even the poorest third-world countries would be quick to dedicate their limited resources to finding the fugitive.
‘If he’s fled interstate, he won’t last long,’ the decorated detective, who led multiple manhunts throughout his career, told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Interstate relationships between police agencies are very strong. Within Australia, there won’t be a problem (finding him).
Veteran detective Charlie Bezzina has urged anyone with information to come forward
Luka Burgic’s mother, Erna, says she has been suffering flashbacks of the horrendous ordeal
‘If he’s gone overseas, there is sometimes a concern that in some third-world countries they don’t particularly have a “care factor” about crimes committed outside their borders.
‘But in this case, given the enormity of the hideous act that this man has allegedly perpetrated on a young baby, that will pull at the heartstrings of any government – and any police agency – in the world.
‘And no one will want the bad publicity that would come with them having this suspect, who has allegedly committed this heinous crime, in their country and that they’re not co-operating.’
Mr Bezzina, who has solved some of Australia’s most brutal murders, said he had been gutted after seeing the heart-breaking images of the man’s infant victim.
‘Hearing about it was absolutely horrific,’ he said.
‘But what really pulled at my heartstrings, and I think the community at large, was when we saw the images of the poor baby all bandaged up.
‘We’ve all got feelings, and when people attack the elderly, the children, the defenceless, that really hits home.’
He urged anyone with any information about the crime to come forward for the sake of little Luka and his grief-stricken family.
Police are seeking this man in connection with the shocking attack on August 27 in Brisbane
Little Luka has undergone four surgeries following the sickening, unprovoked attack
‘My heartfelt sorrow goes out to them, because with burns, the scars will always remain,’ he said.
‘And unfortunately, that’ll be a daily reminder of this buddy, heinous act that’s been perpetrated on such an innocent, innocent child.
‘We need to bring someone to justice and have them answer to these allegations.’
An image of the man auhtorities believe is responsible for the attack has circulated online, with Queensland Police saying they would provide a further update on their investigation on Monday.
The man is described as being in his 30s or 40s and of a proportionate build with tanned skin.
He was wearing a black hat, glasses, a shirt and shorts at the time of the attack.
The incident occurred at the family-friendly Hanlon Park in Brisbane’s inner south-east
Police have tracked his movements after the attack to the southern Brisbane suburb of Tarragindi, where he changed his clothes outside a church.
He then caught a rideshare car into central Brisbane, before moving onto Caxton Street.
Luka Burgic has meanwhile returned to hospital after a short stay back at home.
His mother, Erna, previously said she fears he may need skin grafts and laser.
She also told Nine news last week that she was having flashbacks of the nightmare incident.
‘It’s torture and I’m supposed to be his protector and I couldn’t protect him,’ she said.
‘I’m just having flashbacks all the time about what happened.
Nine-month-old Luka suffered life-threatening burns after being attacked in a Brisbane park
‘I don’t know who would think that is okay to harm a little, innocent baby.’
A gofundme has been set up by Zara Mazza, a friend of Ms Burgic who was with her at the time of the attack.
By Sunday afternoon the page had raised about $150,000, hugely surpassing its initial goal of $5,000.
Criminal psychologist Dr Tim Watson-Munro previously told Daily Mail Australia he was concerned the offender could harm another baby.
‘Two things could occur. It may have been a one-off incident and we hope that he’s caught or he may have found it – for some perverse reason – exciting and daring and that may embolden him to do it again,’ he said.
Criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro has a shocking theory about the attack
‘The notoriety surrounding this case has been quite high. It’s been well described in the media and sometimes these people become emboldened and enlivened by the press, they get off on it in a way and that may lead to further offending.’
He said he was surprised that not one person had come forward with information about the ‘cruel and callous offender’.
‘He may well be protected by people who know him or family members but I don’t think that the lack of detection to date means that the police are not doing their job,’ Dr Watson-Munro said.
‘But the fact that this photo has been published, that it’s out there in cyberspace, I’m a little surprised that no one has come forward and he hasn’t been detected yet.
‘I would have thought somebody might have come forward by now and said “I recognise this person” but as far as I’m aware, unless the police are keeping their cards pretty close, that hasn’t occurred.’
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