Disturbing warning after stranger threw scalding hot coffee onto baby Luka at Hanlon Park, Brisbane
A criminal psychologist has warned that a man who threw scalding hot coffee over a baby could strike again. He is still on the run, more than a week after the attack.
Nine-month-old Luka was picnicking with his mother in Hanlon Park, Brisbane, when the man approached them around midday on August 27.
The baby suffered life-threatening burns to his face, upper body and arms and underwent his third operation at Queensland Children’s Hospital this week.
Police are still looking for the person responsible and last week released new images of a man they would like to speak to as part of the investigation.
Doctor Tim Watson-Munro told Daily Mail Australia it is possible the perpetrator could harm another baby.
“There are two things that could happen. It could have been a one-off incident and we hope he gets caught or he found it – for some perverse reason – exciting and daring and that might encourage him to do it again,” he said.
‘The awareness of this case is quite high. It’s been well covered in the media and sometimes these people get encouraged and hyped up by the press, they get excited about it in a way and that can lead to further offences.’
The forensic psychologist said he was surprised that no one had come forward with information about the “cruel and callous perpetrator.”
Police have released this photo of a man they want to speak to in connection with last week’s incident
“I think he’s hiding somewhere,” said Dr Watson-Munro.
‘He may be protected by people who know him or by family members, but I don’t think the fact that there has been no investigation so far means that the police are not doing their job.
‘But the fact that this photo has been published and that it is circulating on the Internet, I am a little surprised that no one has come forward and that he has not been tracked down yet.
‘I would have expected that by now someone would have come forward and said, “I recognize this person,” but as far as I know that hasn’t happened, unless the police are keeping the cards secret.
“I am confident that they are doing everything they can to find this person, reassure the community and bring him to justice.”
This is evident from the fact that the baby’s mother has stated that she suffers from panic attacks, while the unknown man responsible for the attack is still at large.
In the meantime, more than $100,000 has been raised for the family GoFundMe which will be used to support the baby and his family.
“I had a panic attack last night because I thought he was going to hurt someone else because he’s there. If he can do this to an innocent baby, he can do a lot worse. I don’t want to hurt anyone anymore,” she told reporters earlier this week.
The baby’s mother (pictured with her son) suffers from panic attacks instead of the attack
The boy was able to walk unaided for the first time when he was attacked by the stranger shortly afterwards.
On Tuesday he underwent his third surgery, but he is still recovering.
“(He) is incredibly resilient. He’s up and down, running and causing havoc,” his mother said.
“He is such a strong little boy and we are so proud of him. This terrible event should never have happened. Hopefully one day justice will be done.”
The young mother called on people to ‘come forward’ if they recognised the man.