Pictured: Aunt, 35, accused of murdering her dead twin sister’s four-month-old baby girl

Pictured: Aunt, 35, accused of murdering her dead twin sister’s four-month-old baby girl

  • Woman, 35, is charged with murder over death of four-month-old niece 
  • The baby girl was taken to Logan Hospital with life-threatening injuries
  • She was later transferred to another hospital where she died on November 20  
  • Woman appeared in Beenleigh Magistrates Court Tuesday and will ask for bail 

A 35-year-old woman has been charged with the murder of her baby niece, who she took in after the death of her twin sister.  

Sandra Leigh Houston, 35, appeared in Beenleigh Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday morning, nearly a month after her four-month-old niece died.

The baby arrived at Logan Hospital with life-threatening injuries last month.

She died on November 20, after being transferred to Queensland Children’s Hospital in a critical condition.  

Sandra Leigh Houston, 35, has been charged with the murder of her four-month-old niece

She was then transferred to Queensland Children's Hospital in a critical condition but died on November 20

She was then transferred to Queensland Children’s Hospital in a critical condition but died on November 20

Houston (right) took in the baby when her twin sister Terese died a few months ago

Houston (right) took in the baby when her twin sister Terese died a few months ago

Houston’s lawyer, Robert Burns, said his client was the baby girl’s aunt, and she had taken the baby in after her twin sister died. 

Mr Burns said Houston would be applying for bail and was ‘fairly distraught’ over the baby’s death, but had ‘good grounds’ for bail. 

‘She is fortunate that she does have plenty of family support, her husband and the parents and the rest of her family are very supportive of her,’ he said. 

‘I’m always hopeful for bail. She has good grounds for bail.’ 

Mr Burns would not shed light on how the child died, or when the bail application would be made. 

He told reporters he did not have enough information to form a case on Tuesday. 

‘We haven’t received all of the police material, in fact orders will be made on Thursday for that, so we will see,’ he said.

Houston (right) and her sister Terese (left) shared a similar fashion sense, and sported similar tattoos on their left shoulders

Houston (right) and her sister Terese (left) shared a similar fashion sense, and sported similar tattoos on their left shoulders

The pair, who have been dressing alike since childhood (bottom left and right), appeared to be nearly inseparable and were often seen at events together

The pair, who have been dressing alike since childhood (bottom left and right), appeared to be nearly inseparable and were often seen at events together

Mr Burns was also unable to comment in any detail on what police were alleging had happened to the baby, but said the case would centre around ‘the untimely death of the child’.

Houston will remain in the watch house until her matter is mentioned again on Thursday, when it’s expected Mr Burns would apply for more police material ahead of her application for bail in the Brisbane Supreme Court.  

Social media posts reveal both Houston and her late sister were devoutly religious, and shared a close bond.   

The pair also shared a sense of fashion, with pictures showing the sisters wearing the same outfits with different hairstyles, and sporting similar tattoos. 

She will apply for bail, and her lawyer said she was 'distressed' about the circumstances of the baby's death

She will apply for bail, and her lawyer said she was ‘distressed’ about the circumstances of the baby’s death

Houston's lawyer, Robert Burns, spoke to media outside Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Tuesday. He said the woman had the support of her family

Houston’s lawyer, Robert Burns, spoke to media outside Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Tuesday. He said the woman had the support of her family

 



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