baby Luka Archives - Greenslopes News

Parents of Baby Luka Announce Engagement

In a bittersweet turn of events, the parents of baby Luka, who suffered severe burns in an unprovoked coffee attack at Stones Corner’s Hanlon Park last August, have announced their engagement while the search for their son’s attacker continues to stall.

The couple celebrated their engagement on New Year’s Eve in their new home, where Luka’s father proposed in an intimate setting. “Starting 2025 with my best friend as my fiancé,” Luka’s mother shared on Instagram, accompanied by a photo showing her engagement ring.

The happy news comes amid ongoing frustration over the stalled investigation into the brutal attack that left then nine-month-old Luka with burns to 60% of his body. The incident occurred during a family picnic at Hanlon Park, a popular community space in Stones Corner.

Despite CCTV footage capturing the suspect fleeing the scene, police have been unable to apprehend the attacker, who is believed to have fled to China after travelling from Queensland to Victoria and departing from Sydney Airport on August 31. Detective Inspector Paul Dalton described the investigation as “one of the most complex and sometimes frustrating investigations” he’s had to lead, noting the suspect’s apparent knowledge of police methodologies.

The community rallied around the family following the attack, with a GoFundMe campaign raising over $230,000 to support Luka’s treatment and recovery. The family has since relocated to a new area for a fresh start.

However, Luka’s mother recently expressed her disappointment with the investigation’s lack of progress. “No progression on our case and at a standstill from what we have been told,” she posted on social media. “Super upsetting when you see others getting the justice they deserve… but then your boy isn’t receiving the same.”

Queensland Police confirmed this week that investigations remain ongoing, though no new updates are available. A warrant remains active for the suspect on charges of acts intending to cause grievous bodily harm, which carries a potential life sentence.

The motive for the attack remains unclear, though there has been speculation in China about a possible connection to a visa application refusal. Police have withheld the suspect’s identity and specific location to avoid compromising their investigation.

Published 3-February-2025

Three Months After Baby Luka’s Hanlon Park Coffee Incident

Photo Credit: Facebook / True Crime Trending

A mother has revealed her baby’s challenging recovery journey, three months after he was doused with scalding coffee at Hanlon Park.

Baby Luka, now one-year old, has undergone seven operations at Queensland Children’s Hospital since the August 27 attack, which left him with serious burns to 60 percent of his body, including his face, upper body, and arms.

Photo Credit: Facebook / True Crime Trending

“In those first few weeks, we had no idea what his future was going to look like, especially because the burns were so significant,” his mother told The Courier Mail.

While Luka’s skin has “healed really well” since receiving synthetic skin grafts, his father indicated it could take years for the scars to settle. The infant remains wary around people and becomes shy in group settings, often hiding behind his mother’s legs before gradually warming up to others.

The 33-year-old suspect, captured on CCTV leaving the park, fled overseas via Sydney Airport three days after the attack, just hours before police confirmed his identity. Queensland Police and the Australian Federal Police have issued an arrest warrant for acts intending to cause grievous bodily harm.

**The police are searching for this man who poured a thermos of scalding coffee over the infant.**
Photo Credit: Facebook / True Crime Trending

According to extradition expert Jasmina Ceic from Nyman Gibson Miralis law firm, the process to bring the suspect back to Australia could take between three to five years due to the complexity of international extradition procedures.

Published 16-November-2024

Stones Corner Attack: Baby Scalded in Random Act of Violence

A heinous act of violence has shaken the Stones Corner community in Brisbane, leaving a nine-month-old boy hospitalised with severe burns and his parents pleading for justice.

On Tuesday, the infant, Luka, was enjoying a sunny winter day at Hanlon Park with his mother and a friend when a stranger approached and poured scalding liquid from a Thermos onto the child before fleeing the scene.

Luka suffered severe burns to his chin, neck, and chest, the full extent of which remains unknown until his dressings are removed. His distraught parents, who witnessed the attack, are reeling from the trauma. Luka’s mother expressed online that her son didn’t deserve this, and no one did. She wishes the hot coffee had been poured on her instead of her boy. She emphasised that the man needs to be found and charged.

Police have released chilling CCTV footage of the attacker fleeing the scene and are urging anyone with information to come forward. Detective Inspector Paul Dalton, a 35-year veteran of the force, expressed his shock at the “callous and cowardly” attack.

The attacker is described as being in his 30s or 40s, with a proportionate build and tanned skin. He wore a black hat, glasses, a shirt, and shorts. Police are working tirelessly to identify and apprehend him and vow to hold him accountable for his actions.

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page set up by Zara Mazza, a friend of the victim’s mother who witnessed the attack, has already surpassed its $5,000 goal. The funds will assist the family with medical and household expenses during Luka’s long road to recovery.

This senseless act of violence has sent shockwaves through the community, raising concerns about safety in public spaces. As police continue their investigation, residents are left grappling with the aftermath of this horrific incident, hoping for swift justice and a sense of security restored to their neighbourhood.

Published Date 30-August-2024