Hanlon Park, Brisbane: Cops confirm worst fears about coward accused of throwing coffee on nine-month-old baby Luka Burgic

Police have finally identified a man accused of throwing coffee over a nine-month-old baby in a Brisbane park, but the man has since fled overseas.

Little Luka Burgic was picnicking with his mother Erna at Hanlon Park, in Brisbane’s south-east, when the man approached them around midday on August 27 and poured a thermos of hot coffee over the baby before running away.

The baby suffered life-threatening burns to his face, upper body and arms and underwent four operations at Queensland Children’s Hospital.

Queensland police last week raised concerns that the man may have travelled to another state or overseas, but on Monday it was confirmed he had fled the country.

The 33-year-old man was in NSW on August 28 and left Sydney Airport on August 31 using his own passport, just 12 hours before police confirmed his identity.

A warrant has now been issued for his arrest for causing grievous bodily harm, for which he could face a possible life sentence.

Detective Constable Paul Dalton, who described the incident as a “barbaric attack”, said the suspect was “aware of police methods” and was “carrying out counter-surveillance activities”.

“This is probably one of the most complex and at times frustrating investigations I have ever been involved in and led,” he said.

The baby suffered life-threatening burns to his face, upper body and arms

Detective Dalton said the man was clearly “aware of what we (police) do to find people” and that police were hampered in their efforts when they were initially given the wrong name.

“It wasn’t until September 1 that we were able to put the name of the face on the surveillance cameras,” he said.

“Even at that point, we probably didn’t have enough evidence to get a warrant.

“We have now been to New South Wales and Victoria to gather that information and the warrant has been granted.”

Detective Dalton said he knew which country the man had fled to, but he could not share that information while the investigation was ongoing.

Detective Constable Paul Dalton (pictured), who described the incident as a “barbaric attack”, said the suspect was “aware of police methods” and was “carrying out counter-surveillance activities”.

He said the man had been in and out of Australia since 2019 and had behaved “legally” on each occasion.

“There are no adverse effects that we can find on him in Australia,” Detective Inspector Dalton said.

He said the man was in the country on a visa and had addresses “on the east coast” but not in Queensland.

The suspect was a ‘travelling’ worker in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria and police had questioned a number of his former colleagues.

Detective Dalton encourages anyone with information to come forward.

“Now that this person has fled Australia, people may feel safer reporting to police,” he said.

“I encourage them to do that. There will be no judgment on you.”