Custodial dad who murdered 2-year-old daughter had long history of violence (Victoria, Australia)

This is the custodial UNNAMED DAD that we were recently told was never violent (according to a headline from this past week). Once again, we see a lot of evidence regarding this father's history of alcoholism and violence--all of which was ignored. And once again, this particular article (too typically) does not report that this father had custody of these two young children. So once again, we fail to ask what should be the most obvious question: Who gave this killer father custody and why?

We actually first reported on this case back in 2009. I'll have to find some of those earlier links. Even then I asked out loud who gave this father custody and why. In two years, there has been nothing but deafening silence on the matter. Why does the Australian media continue to protect those in authority?

http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/ballarat-court-childcare-worker-raised-concerns-about-toddler/2209886.aspx?storypage=0

Ballarat court: childcare worker raised concerns about toddler

28 Jun, 2011 11:48 PM

A FATHER told his toddler daughter he could do whatever he wanted to her as he brutally bashed her a month before she died from brain injuries, an inquest has heard.

Two-year-old Hayley screamed out “daddy, daddy” as her drunk father Robert violently abused her in July 2009, witness statements before the Victorian Coroners Court in Ballarat show.

Robert shoved Hayley’s head into a wall and also kicked her legs out from under her, causing her to fall back onto her head, Robert’s girlfriend’s brother said in a witness statement which was released to the media yesterday.

The brother, who was at the house with Robert and his sister, said when Hayley’s head hit the lino covered hardwood floor it made a loud knock.

“Rob told her: ‘I’m your dad and I can do whatever I want’,” the brother said in his statement.

He said Robert said: “If you think other people are mean then you should see how mean I can be.”

Robert also allegedly told Hayley “he was probably going to kill her and go to f---ing jail”, the brother said.

Earlier in the night, Robert had yelled at Hayley, “Why can’t you be a normal child,” Robert’s girlfriend, who is known as SR, said in her statement to the inquest.

To punish Hayley for allegedly misbehaving he made her stand on the kitchen floor late into the night, the inquest heard.

“If Hayley did anything like any movement or looking around Robert would slap her on the leg or on her hand with his open hand,” SR said.

“These were hard hits and Hayley was screaming and Robert would scream at her and kept hitting her.

“He tried to stand her up on the table but her knees kept buckling ... she was crying and yelling out ‘daddy, daddy’.

SR, who was playing an XBox as the abuse was occurring, said Robert later appeared to be flinging Hayley from side to side, causing her head to hit the kitchen floor.

Hayley’s leg became limp, she was making a gargling noise and her eyes were rolling back in her head, SR said.

Robert eventually took Hayley to a local hospital and she was taken by air ambulance to the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Robert was charged with intentionally causing serious injury but killed himself a few days after being charged.

The inquest heard on Monday that Robert’s girlfriend is still being investigated by police. The girlfriend was excused from giving evidence on the grounds of self-incrimination.

Yesterday, Coroner John Olle also excused the girlfriend’s brother from giving evidence after finding he too may incriminate himself.

The court heard that child care workers had raised concerns about injuries to Hayley as early as May 2009.

Injuries to the toddler, which included black eyes, were photographed on three separate occasions, the court heard.

The inquest into their deaths continues today.