Quincy Zuma Wambitta Timberlake killed his son Sinclair, 3, in Kallangur and believed he was possessed by the devil
A former Kenyan presidential candidate killed his three-year-old son because he believed he was possessed by the devil and aliens, a court has been told.
Quincy Zuma Wambitta Timberlake, 43, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his son Sinclair, who died on June 18, 2014 at their home in Kallangur, north of Brisbane.
Police were initially told that the young boy had fallen down the stairs and was not breathing when emergency services were called to the home.
Quincy Zuma Wambitta Timberlake has been convicted of the manslaughter of his son
Sinclair Timberlake, 3, died in June 2014 at his home in Kallangur
The boy died a short time later, despite the efforts of paramedics.
Crown prosecutor Clayton Wallis said it is “difficult to determine what happened to the child” because both Timberlake and his wife, Ether Timberlake, “obscured the true timeline of events.”
He said that ‘because of the lies’ the couple told and ‘the delusions’ Timberlake has experienced since the death, the Crown was unable to determine the exact manner in which the child died – but pressure on his abdomen played a role .
Mrs. Timberlake later told police that her husband punched the young boy in the stomach and also threw him against a wall.
She has since been convicted of being an accessory to the boy’s manslaughter after she tried to mislead police that her husband had hurt their son.
It was never suggested that Mrs. Timberlake had harmed her son.
The court heard that Mrs Timberlake eventually told police that she had heard her husband say the ‘devil is gone now’ after he punched the boy in the stomach.
Mr Wallis said Timberlake’s mental health had deteriorated at the time due to tensions in his life, including his pending visa application and fears for his family’s safety.
The court heard Timberlake arrived in Australia as a refugee and was eventually granted a bridging visa after his wife was allowed to sponsor him.
Ms Timberlake had already been granted a visa in Australia.
Quincy Zuma Wambitta Timberlake had punched his son in the stomach, which led to his death
Judge Paul Freeburn sentenced Timberlake to 11 years in prison for the unlawful killing of Sinclair.
However, he stated that Timberlake was eligible for parole on Friday after serving nine years and one month in pre-trial detention.
The court heard Timberlake sought treatment for his mental health while in custody.
Timberlake announced in 2010 that he would run for president in Kenya under a political party he co-founded with his wife and Kenya Finger of God Church founder Joseph Hellon.