Infant found dead from meth overdose in drug den had 43 separate injuries on his body; mother charged in case
A baby boy was found to have more than 40 injuries to his body after he died from a meth overdose in a known drug den. On September 24 last year, 13-month-old Makavelii Leoni died in hospital after he was found not breathing at his Cairns residence in Queensland's far north.
The Cairns Magistrates Court heard on Monday how the infant had 43 separate injuries to his body, the Courier-Mail reports. Investigators also found bite marks, burns, bruises, and grazes among other injuries to Makavelii's body. Addressing the court, Police Prosecutor Senior Sergeant Maynard Marcum recounted how "four days before his death, he was seen happy, laughing, in a good condition. Four days later, the baby was dead."
Earlier this month, Makavelii's 21-year-old mother Lina Marie Daley was charged with manslaughter, torture, and drug trafficking. Several people allegedly witnessed Daley smoking ice while breastfeeding her baby boy. Meanwhile, she also allegedly trafficked methamphetamine and cannabis.
It was ruled the baby suffered "prolonged" and "systemic exposure" to meth after being exposed to the substance through his mother's breast milk. While it is yet to be established how much meth he involuntarily ingested, little Makavelii was found to have at least 0.7mg/kg of the substance in his system -- which is fatal to an adult, according to a toxicity report.
Authorities believe the toddler may have swallowed a chunk of his mother's meth from her stash. "The precise time and method of exposure is not clear, but it was sufficient to be fatal," Sgt. Marcum said.
This is after police claimed to have found an ice pipe and cannabis inside the baby's nappy bag. It was also revealed in court how Daley reportedly sold a "halfball" of ice to someone for $550.
The embattled mother appeared in court via video link on Monday from the Townsville Women's Correctional Centre. Daley's defense barrister argued while applying for bail that the prosecution's case was "wanting" and purely "circumstantial."
According to him, there were a number of other adults in the home at the time, and therefore it was difficult to ascertain Makavelii was exposed to his mother's drugs. Meanwhile, Sgt. Marcum alleged there had been an "egregious breach of duty of care" by the mother.
According to him, Daley failed to protect her baby boy from being systematically and fatally exposed to drugs and violence. That said, Daley was denied bail and is currently remanded in custody before her next scheduled appearance at the Cairns Magistrates Court on December 4.