Australians deserve to know the identity of a man suspected of pouring hot coffee on a baby and leaving him with lifelong injuries, a criminal psychologist has said, amid fears the man responsible will never be caught.
A 33-year-old Chinese national on a student visa has been identified as a suspect, but police have refused to release his name.
The man is believed to have poured boiling coffee on nine-month-old Luka, who was on a picnic with his mother at Hanlon Park in Brisbane on August 27.
The baby suffered life-threatening burns to his face, upper body and arms and underwent four operations at Queensland Children’s Hospital.
Police obtained a warrant for the man’s arrest for acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The man drove to New South Wales a day after the alleged attack before flying out of the country from Sydney on August 31.
Chinese media reports revealed the man had entered and left Australia many times since 2019, initially using a working holiday visa before switching to a student visa.
During all this time he lived in various locations on the east coast of Australia and worked in a meat processing plant.
But when his latest visa application was rejected, the man’s frustration allegedly erupted into the cafe attack, Chinese media reported.
A 33-year-old Chinese national on a student visa has been identified as a suspect, but police have refused to release his name.
“Eventually, he vented his anger and (allegedly) hurt a baby before leaving Australia,” China’s New Tang Dynasty Television reported.
The man reportedly has “a brain problem,” according to a co-worker who posted on a Chinese social media platform.
“On the mainland social media ‘Little Red Book’, a Chinese man in Australia who claimed to know him broke the news that this man has always been strange and difficult to deal with,” NTD Television added.
‘He has been working in a meat factory for a long time on a study permit. Later, the meat factory did not need a study permit.’
The TV station stated that the man “probably (attacked Luka) to take revenge on the whites, before fleeing.”
Queensland Police said that while the suspect’s name has been reported in Chinese media, Australian police will not reveal it due to the risk of compromising the investigation.
Dr Tim Watson-Munro questions that approach.
“I think it’s a bit peculiar, they say it’s for operational reasons, but I don’t understand how naming it would prejudice any case,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘There is an Australian public that wants answers.
‘I hope there is some explanation beyond operating procedures. “People want justice and closure and we have a right to know that because it is a case that has shocked many people.”
Dr Watson-Munro said since the suspect had no family in Australia, there was no risk of anyone going after his relatives.
“In Australia criminals are called that, unless they know more than us, I think it’s quite unusual,” he explained.
“My opinion is that we have the right to know who he is, if he is the alleged responsible.”
The expert added that, in addition to the obvious difficulty of the suspect being abroad, if he had fled to China, there is another barrier in terms of communication and its own justice system.
Nine-month-old Luka had boiling coffee poured on him on August 27
Dr Watson-Munro added it could be “a long time” before police can extradite him to Australia, if that is possible.
Former detective Dr. Terry Goldsworthy also had doubts that naming the suspect would hamper the investigation.
“His picture is everywhere, so he knows the police know who he is and they’re looking for him,” he told The Today Show.
“There may be reasons why the police didn’t want this to come to light, but ultimately I don’t think it’s going to harm the investigation.”
“If his photo wasn’t there, I would understand it being kept secret, but his photo is everywhere, so I don’t see it being a problem.”
Dr Goldsworthy said one thing that could impede the investigation is whether there is an extradition agreement between Australia and the country the suspect fled to.
“For example, we don’t have an extradition agreement with China, so if it is there, it would be quite difficult to get it back,” he said.
‘Depending on the country, there is always the possibility of reaching an ad hoc agreement, a one-off agreement. The authorities might decide, “We don’t agree with what this person did, so we’re going to put them on a plane and send them back to Australia.”
‘Interpol will probably issue a red alert. If this person goes to a third country that recognizes those warnings and takes action, they could be stopped. That country may have an extradition treaty with us.
The baby suffered life-threatening burns to his face, upper body and arms and has undergone four operations at Queensland Children’s Hospital.
