00:01Jason Ross-Allen Formal has pleaded guilty to eight domestic violence charges here at
00:06the Cairns Supreme Court. Six of those relate to the assault and eventual death of his five-year-old
00:12son back in 2022 in Yarraba, which is about 10 kilometres east from where we are at the
00:18moment. Now, the court has heard the boy came into his father's care after his mother, who
00:24he'd previously always lived with in Cairns, had begun studies. And it was during those
00:28weeks that the child was subject to his father's physical abuse. The prosecution has presented
00:34evidence to the court, including medical assessments, which showed injuries all over the child's
00:39body, including broken bones, which were likely sustained days prior to his eventual death.
00:46Now, police first launched an investigation back in August 2022, when the child was airlifted
00:51to Townsville Hospital with critical injuries. After his death, they charged and arrested
00:57his father, including the charges of murder and torture, both of which have since been
01:03dropped. The boy's mother has appeared before the court where she read her victim impact statement
01:08describing the endless and paralyzing pain of knowing that her child had suffered before
01:14he died. And she spoke in tears of not being able to hold her little boy ever again. The
01:20prosecution has suggested up to a 16 year jail sentence for four mile, noting he had a history
01:27of domestic violence dating back 10 years and also, you know, noting his ongoing assaults of his boys,
01:35his son, sorry, during those weeks. The four miles lawyers have instead suggested around a 12 year
01:42sentence, noting his early pleas of guilty and his efforts to access support and also noting he had a
01:49difficult upbringing where he was also subject to domestic violence and sexual abuse as a child.
01:55Now, today, later this afternoon, court will resume where Justice James Henry will decide on
02:00formal sentence. So there will be more to come as the day goes on.
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