Cairns court hears of ongoing child abuse allegations

She was the face of innocence, a cheeky youngster photographed for The Cairns Post at Edge Hill State School in 2008.

But who was to know three years later that innocent face disguised a tragic sequence of events that could have ultimately led to her death.

Faith Leaso, 8, was abused emotionally and physically over a year and was removed from school by her mother to conceal Faith’s injuries after an investigation by the child safety department, police allege.

The girl was found dead in a Westcourt apartment on Monday night.

Her mother, Ane Leaso, has been arrested and police said yesterday it was anticipated she would be charged with murder.

Faith was “repeatedly assaulted” by her mother using a metal vacuum cleaner pole, the Cairns Magistrate Court heard yesterday.

Ane Leaso, 27, has been charged with a count of torture on November 21 and two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm whilst armed on November 23.

Faith’s body was found on November 28.

Sen-Constable Bob Soper told the court the abuse occurred over a year.

“It’s been alleged by the prosecution that the defendant’s eight-year-old child has been exposed to prolonged period of physical and emotional abuse over 12 months.”

“In November 2010 the defendant removed her child from school following an intervention by the Department of Child Safety, it is alleged to conceal the child’s injuries by taking her out of school,” he said.

Faith attended Edge Hill and Cairns West state schools.

Education Queensland said she was not enrolled at any school at the time of her death.

Sen Constable Soper said it was possible a charge of murder would be laid in the next week or so, pending pathology test results.

“The defendant has essentially made admissions she caused the death of the child by assaulting the child over a prolonged period of time,” the court heard.

He opposed bail saying police had concerns if released Ms Leaso, a New Zealander who moved to Australia in 2005, could interfere with witnesses, abscond or self-harm.

Magistrate Suzette Coates denied bail and remanded her in custody to appear in court again on December 21.

A 22-year-old man has also been charged with child cruelty and will appear in court on December 15.

 

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