The foster brother accused of incest with the slain 12-year-old raised fears he may have gotten the 12-year-old pregnant, court heard. Trent Thorburn, 19, was denied bail in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court after being charged last night with incest, perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
His father Rick Thorburn has been charged with murdering Tiahleigh, who had been in the family’s care for months.
The ABC reports that the prosecution told the court he abused his position as a big brother and took advantage of Tiahleigh by having sex with her.
Statements had also been obtained from a friend of Tiahleigh and her foster brother, who said the schoolgirl had disclosed “that when her foster carer went out, their son would then have sex with her”.
The court heard Trent was concerned he might have impregnated Tiahleigh and raised those concerns with a cousin in a Facebook message.The court was also told that his mother Julene may have been aware of their relationship.
Trent Thorburn. PHOTO: Facebook
Trent was remanded in custody until November.
Rick Thorburn was charged yesterday with murdering the 12-year-old and dumping her body in a river, with the arrest coming 11 months after Tiahleigh’s body was found. The court heard Rick had been rushed to hospital after collapsing at Beenleigh watch-house on Tuesday night, just hours after he was charged.
At the time, it was reported that he had dropped Tiahleigh off at school the morning she disappeared.
Six days later her naked body was found on the banks of the Pimpama River.
Julene Thorburn, Rick’s wife and Trent’s mother, has been charged withperjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
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