The man who murdered Queensland schoolboy Daniel Morcombe has been taken to hospital after a fellow inmate reportedly threw boiling water on him.
Brett Peter Cowan reportedly received burns to his head and chest after he got a “hot shower” – a prison term for pouring a bucket of hot water on someone.
Cowan, who was convicted in 2014 of murdering Morcombe after an eight-year investigation, is believed to be at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital receiving treatment for his burns.
Daniel Morcombe.
A Queensland Corrective Services spokesperson this morning confirmed there was an incident and a prisoner was taken to hospital.
“About 9.15am, correctional officers discovered that the 46-year-old male prisoner was injured and immediately contacted the Queensland Ambulance Service,” the spokesperson said.
“The prisoner was conscious and lucid and was conveyed to a Brisbane Hospital for treatment. An update on his condition is not known at this stage.
“Another prisoner is being interviewed in relation to the incident. The matter is being investigated by the Queensland Police Service’s Corrective Services Investigation Unit and the QCS’s Office of the Chief Inspector.
“As the matter is the subject of a police investigation, QCS can make no further comment.”
In February Cowan was integrated with other inmates after death threats kept him in isolation for nearly two years.
Earlier this year the Brisbane High Court refused to grant Cowan permission to appeal his murder conviction. He is serving a life sentence for killing the 13-year-old schoolboy.
