Police have finally identified a man accused of throwing coffee over a nine-month-old baby in a Brisbane park, but the man has since fled overseas.
Little Luka Burgic was picnicking with his mother Erna at Hanlon Park, in Brisbane’s south-east, when the man approached them around midday on August 27 and poured a thermos of hot coffee over the baby before running away.
The baby suffered life-threatening burns to his face, upper body and arms and underwent four operations at Queensland Children’s Hospital.
Queensland police last week raised concerns that the man may have travelled to another state or overseas, but on Monday it was confirmed he had fled the country.
The 33-year-old man was in NSW on August 28 and left Sydney Airport on August 31 using his own passport, just 12 hours before police confirmed his identity.
A warrant has now been issued for his arrest for causing grievous bodily harm, for which he could face a possible life sentence.
Detective Constable Paul Dalton, who described the incident as a “barbaric attack”, said the suspect was “aware of police methods” and was “carrying out counter-surveillance activities”.
“This is probably one of the most complex and at times frustrating investigations I have ever been involved in and led,” he told reporters.
A man accused of spilling coffee on a nine-month-old baby in a Brisbane park has fled overseas while police have a warrant out for his arrest
The baby suffered life-threatening burns to his face, upper body and arms
Detective Dalton said the man was clearly “aware of what we (police) do to find people” and that police were hampered in their efforts when they were initially given the wrong name.
“It wasn’t until September 1 that we were able to put the name of the face on the surveillance cameras,” he said.
“Even at that point, we probably didn’t have enough evidence to get a warrant.
“We have now been to New South Wales and Victoria to gather that information and the warrant has been granted.”
Detective Dalton said he knew which country the man had fled to, but he could not share that information while the investigation was ongoing.
Detective Constable Paul Dalton (pictured), who described the incident as a “barbaric attack”, said the suspect was “aware of police methods” and was “carrying out counter-surveillance activities”.
He said the man had been in and out of Australia since 2019 and had behaved “legally” on each occasion.
“There are no adverse effects that we can find on him in Australia,” Detective Inspector Dalton said.
He said the man was in the country on a visa and had addresses “on the east coast” but not in Queensland.
The suspect was a ‘travelling’ worker in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria and police had questioned a number of his former colleagues.
Detective Dalton called the attack the “most cowardly” he had seen in his career.
“A young mother and a baby are sitting on the ground and you approach them from behind,” he said.
Little Luka has undergone four surgeries after the sickening, unprovoked attack
Detective Inspector Dalton said the attack was the “most cowardly” he had seen in his career (pictured: the suspect who has now fled abroad)
“Can you think of anything more vulnerable than that? And taking advantage of it? You’re probably right, it’s one of the most disgusting I’ve come across.”
Detective Dalton promised he wouldn’t stop until the man was caught.
“I have 30 detectives working for me. They are devastated that they missed this person by 12 hours,” he said.
“I think the family would just be more upset about that.”
Detective Dalton encourages anyone with information to come forward.
“Now that this person has fled Australia, people may feel safer reporting to police,” he said.
“I encourage them to do that. There will be no judgment on you.”
The man is described as between 30 and 40 years old, with a proportionate build and tanned skin.
During the attack he was wearing a black hat, glasses, a shirt and shorts.
Police tracked his movements after the attack to the southern Brisbane suburb of Tarragindi, where he changed clothes outside a church.
He then took a taxi into downtown Brisbane, driving to Caxton Street where the tracks ended.
