Father charged with murder after baby girl’s body found on Gold Coast

A 48-year-old man has been charged with the murder of a nine-month-old baby girl who was found on a Gold Coast beach earlier this week.

According to ABC, the baby’s father, who can’t be named due to legal reasons, was extradited from Queensland and arrived at Tweed Heads police station in New South Wales on Wednesday evening. He was refused bail and faced the Tweed Heads Magistrates Court via video link on Thursday morning.

It was alleged in court that the baby died in New South Wales, before her body washed up at Surfers Paradise Beach, according to the report.

Police and paramedics were called to Staghorn Avenue, the Esplanade, at about 12.30am on Monday morning to attend to a young girl who was unresponsive on Surfers Paradise beach.

Emergency Services officers conducted CPR at the scene, however, they were unable to save the baby girl and she was declared deceased at the scene. The parents of the baby, the 48-year-old male and his 23-year-old partner, were reportedly homeless and living in parks near Surfers Paradise.

Queensland Police confirmed on Tuesday the couple were known to police and have been assisting with the investigation since their nine-month-old child was discovered on the shoreline.

New South Wales Police also confirmed on Tuesday night they will take over the investigation with help from their Queensland counterparts.

“Whilst investigators from Tweed/Byron Police District will lead the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death under Strike Force Palua, they will continue to work closely with Queensland Police Service detectives,” police said in a statement. 

Surfers Paradise is one of the Gold Coast’s most popular tourist spots and is often teeming with late-night revellers during the summer.

The tragic incident occurred during one of the Gold Coast’s busiest weeks of the year, with thousands of school leavers descending upon its sands for Schoolies Week.

Police have confirmed the girl’s death was not schoolies related. 

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