Justice Eludes Family One Year After Baby Scalded with Hot Coffee in Brisbane Park
The mother of a young boy who was severely scalded in a Brisbane park attack has issued a public call for justice, one year after the incident.
The man suspected of deliberately throwing hot coffee on the then-nine-month-old child fled Australia days after the attack and remains overseas, prompting the mother to highlight what she calls a failure of the legal system.
The incident occurred in August 2024, when the mother and her son, Luka, were at a picnic in Hanlon Park, Stones Corner.
It is alleged a man approached them and threw the contents of a thermos, scalding the child on his face and chest.
Police later identified a suspect, believed to be a Chinese national, but discovered he had left the country just hours before he was identified.
There is no formal extradition treaty between Australia and China.
A Year of Treatment and Calls for Accountability
In a statement released on the anniversary of the attack, Luka’s mother detailed her son’s difficult recovery.
Now two years old, he has undergone eight surgeries, including skin grafts and laser treatments for his burns.
While describing his healing as spirited, she wrote that the knowledge “that the person who hurt our child walks free” is a painful reality.
She criticised the failure of legal and international systems to protect victims.
The Queensland Police Service has reiterated its commitment to the case. In a statement, a spokesperson said that police remain focused on “securing justice for the victim and his family” as their investigation continues.