‘Saw him throw him into the water': Witness claim at bail application for manslaughter-accused dad
Police allegations surrounding Jaye Lee Walton's case were revealed during a bail application before Ipswich Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Dressed in prison greens, Mr Walton did not react beyond acknowledging his name to Magistrate Robert Walker when he was beamed into court via audiovisual link.
The 42-year-old fisherman is charged with the manslaughter of his baby son, Reef Hunter Walton, on July 12.
The court was told Mr Walton, his partner Amy Stevenson and Reef camped overnight at Chatsworth Park, near Gympie, while travelling home to Innisfail in Far North Queensland.
Reading from material filed for the bail affidavit, Magistrate Walker said Mr Walton was alleged to have consumed all of a 4 litre cask of wine the night before and still cared for his son – who was teething – through the night.
The next morning, at breakfast, Reef became unsettled and Mr Walton said he would take the child for a walk to the toilet block and clean him up, Mr Walker said.
'After about 30 minutes, you failed to return, so she (Ms Stevenson) went to check,' Mr Walker read from the material.
It is alleged Mr Walton was found asleep, 'lying down' at the edge of a pond and Reef was 'face down', 10m out in the water.
'(She) started screaming at you, but realised you were asleep,' Mr Walker said.
'She entered the water, recovered the child, returned to the bank and commenced CPR.'
Mr Walker read from Ms Stevenson's statement filed to the court, saying Mr Walton was observed to be 'smiling or laughing' when he woke up and appeared 'oblivious' to what had occurred.
'You then fled on foot, but returned due to the actions of bystanders,' Mr Walker said.
The court was told Mr Walton – who was described as a 'high-functioning alcoholic' – agreed to provide a breath sample to police but then 'failed to do so'.
Defence lawyer Mark Butler said his client's case fell into the category of manslaughter by criminal negligence, telling the court Child Safety had never been involved with the family.
'There is no allegation than my client has been anything than a loving father,' Mr Butler said.
He pointed to Ms Stevenson's statement, which outlined how Mr Walton was heavily involved in caring for Reef, letting his partner sleep and describing the father's relationship with his son as 'amazing'.
Magistrate Walker questioned how the alleged offence could be categorised as criminal negligence due to witnesses claiming Mr Walton was seen throwing his son into the water.
He said Ms Stevenson claimed in her statement one woman told her: 'The guys were saying they saw him throw him into the water.'
Mr Butler said these were 'hearsay comments' as those alleged witnesses had not given statements.
The court was told police inquiries were still ongoing and officers were yet to speak to some alleged witnesses who may have been at the park.
'There is still a question mark from the officer's perspective, at least, as to the veracity of the statement of someone saying they saw him (Mr Walton) throw (Reef) in,' police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Michael Read said.
The court was told Mr Walton had a traffic history containing multiple alcohol-related incidents but did not have a significant criminal history.
Magistrate Walker refused bail, finding there was a risk of Mr Walton 'endangering the safety or welfare' of persons as a high-functioning alcoholic.
He also pointed to alleged statements Mr Walton made after Reef's death, including: 'Well there's nothing else left'.
The court was told Mr Walton allegedly put his head through the wall of the watch house interview room and had expressed thoughts of suicide and self-harm.
'There is good evidence that if released on bail, you would be a danger to yourself,' Mr Walker said.
Mr Walton will return to court on August 4.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

ABC News
4 minutes ago
- ABC News
Alleged 'Pam the Bird' graffiti creator exits court in Spiderman costume while facing 208 charges
The man accused of vandalising Melbourne buildings and train carriages with "Pam the Bird" graffiti is now facing dozens of fresh charges, a Victorian court has heard. Jack Gibson-Burrell, 21, arrived at court on Thursday wearing a Spiderman mask, then later exited wearing a full-body costume, flanked by his defence lawyer Micky Milardovic. He crouched down and posed for cameras, before running down the street, appearing to attempt to scale CBD buildings. Neither he or his lawyer made comments to waiting media. Mr Gibson-Burrell was facing over 50 charges when he last appeared in court, but during a short mention the Melbourne Magistrates' Court heard he was now facing 208. Details of the additional charges are yet to be released, but the original charges include allegedly painting the famous bird on the Flinders Street Station clock tower, the "Cheese Stick" column on CityLink and Channel Nine's Docklands headquarters. Police also allege he carried out a shop ram-raid and an assault against a retail worker. Mr Gibson-Burrell is expected to contest the charges. He was granted bail in February after agreeing to adhere to a curfew and live with his elderly grandmother. In court earlier this year, police described Mr Gibson-Burrell as a "notorious vandal" who put the public at risk by breaking into buildings and abseiling to spray graffiti. Police also previously told the court train carriages were the main target of the alleged vandalism, with the damage bill for all of the graffiti in excess of $200,000.

News.com.au
24 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Magistrate's message to man accused of fatally striking pedestrian with e-bike
A man accused of killing a pedestrian while riding an illegally modified e-bike has appeared in court. Jacob Charleston, 24, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court with his arm in a sling on Wednesday for a bail review hearing. He was granted bail earlier in July after being charged with offences including dangerous driving causing death. Police allege Mr Charleston was unlicensed and had methamphetamine in his system when he fatally struck 69-year-old William Lothian with a pushbike fitted with a 5000-watt motor. The impact occurred as Mr Lothian was crossing Frankston-Flinders Rd in Hastings in the evening of May 12. The magistrate adjourned the matter for a month, stressing the importance of the accused engaging with the support programs tied to his bail conditions. 'Seek the assistance that's been provided,' the magistrate said. 'If you don't it will be to your detriment.' Mr Charleston is expected to return to court in August.

News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Zakia Bashi Qamber fronts Adelaide court in alleged hit-and-run case
Chilling CCTV that allegedly shows a car being driven by a mother striking and killing a woman in a hit-and-run crash has surfaced, as the accused faces court six months on from the incident. Zakia Bashi Qamber fronted Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday, charged with causing the death of the 40-year-old woman in the early morning crash in January. Grainy CCTV footage shows a vehicle, allegedly driven by Ms Qamber, approaching the woman with headlights piercing the darkness. The woman suffered serious injuries in the hit on Kinkaid Rd in Elizabeth East and died at the scene. Ms Qamber is charged with causing death by the careless use of a vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident after causing death. She was due to enter pleas to the charges on Thursday but Michael Woods, appearing for Ms Qamber, asked for an eight-week adjournment as he needed more time to consume material. Mr Woods said he was still waiting on body-worn camera footage from the scene of the crash, the confirmation of biological material on the undercarriage of the vehicle and a post-mortem toxicological report. He told the court he might consider a no case to answer application after reviewing the material. 'It appears there is a large amount of disclosure outstanding,' Magistrate Lynette Duncan said. She listed September 18 for the next answer charge hearing, where Ms Qamber is expected to enter her pleas. An interpreter stood with Ms Qamber in the dock and spoke softly to her throughout proceedings. Ms Qamber has been granted bail and left the court with a supporter. She has no prior criminal history.