<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/queensland-ipswich-court-man-charged-with-manslaughter-over-babys-campsite-drowning-to-seek-bail/29b8cb60-cae0-4d6d-894f-27cd4c17cfd9" rel="" target="_blank" title="A father charged over his infant son's drowning"><span>A father charged over his infant son's drowning</span></a><span> has been denied bail after a court heard claims he threw the baby in a campsite's lake.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Jaye Lee Walton, 42, faced Ipswich Magistrates Court today after being charged with domestic violence-related manslaughter over the death of seven-month-old Reef Hunter Walton.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The baby boy drowned on July 12 at a campsite near Gympie, north of Brisbane.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/first-guardian-master-trust-superannuation-lost-asic-investigation-exclusive/7a944ee1-faa0-40c0-8972-011f056c9fee" target="_blank"><strong><span>Christian, JC and Johanna are missing a combined $319k in super. They're not alone</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Walton, an Innisfail fishing trawler worker, appeared via videolink in a green jail-issue tracksuit at his bail application.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Magistrate Robert Walker raised claims regarding the baby's drowning, saying witnesses heard the defendant had "thrown him in" to the campsite's nearby lake.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Walker said he did not accept defence solicitor Mark Butler's claim the allegation would ultimately centre on criminal negligence.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/father-charged-with-baby-son-drowning-gympie-denied-bail/e613e2ff-9e3d-462f-84bc-ba781bf1b449" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Witnesses were heard to say 'I saw him throw him in'," Walker said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It seems to me it's not potentially settled if this would even be the charge."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Butler said the claims, which came second-hand from Walton's partner, were hearsay.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"(Walton's partner) states she said (in response) 'if they saw him, why didn't they come over sooner? Why was I the first person here?'," Butler said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"She does not believe what she has heard."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/trump-says-cocacola-will-use-real-sugar-in-its-us-flagship-drink-the-company-isnt-confirming-that/c4c1a407-ce6e-4900-8872-8103946ff702" target="_blank"><strong><span>Trump announces Coca-Cola will change its recipe at his request</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Michael Read told Walker investigators were still trying to track down all witnesses.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Certainly someone has said that to (Walton's partner). It's a matter of how much weight it is given."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Walker told Walton he was facing a strong prosecution case before reading out details of the police's allegations.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Walton had been returning from NSW with Reef and the baby's mother when they stopped at Chatsworth Park on Friday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You consumed four litres (of boxed wine) that night," Walker said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Reef was unsettled the next morning and Walton took him for a walk to the toilet block.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Walton's partner 30 minutes later saw him laying down by the edge of the pond and Reef floating face down about 10 metres out, the court was told.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"She started screaming at you and realised you were asleep. She entered the water and recovered the child. Bystanders came to help," Walker said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You woke up and were said to be smiling, laughing and appearing oblivious to what had occurred.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You then fled on foot but then returned due to the actions of bystanders."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/queensland-warana-stabbing-entrepreneur-pays-tribute-to-husband-dead-outside-luxury-home/65278dbf-2242-4566-86bb-1dae583d2a57" target="_blank"><strong><span>Two teenagers charged with murder over deadly stabbing</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police said Walton failed to provide a breath sample for alcohol testing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Read said he opposed bail due to Walton's alleged actions in custody.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Remanding him would be for his own protection ... when he was told the child was deceased he said 'there is nothing else left'," Read said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Read said Walton had performed an act of self-harm while in the police interview room.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Butler said Walton had been described as a "loving father" and the alleged incident could be related to alcohol use or lack of sleep.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"(His partner) described his relationship with his son as amazing. He was his first son, he was his little mate," Butler said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Walker refused bail and ordered the case next be mentioned on August 4 at Gympie Magistrates Court.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Support is available from the</span></strong><span> </span><strong><span>National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service</span></strong><span> </span><strong><span>at</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.1800respect.org.au/" title="https://www.1800respect.org.au/"><strong><span>1800RESPECT (1800 737 732)</span></strong></a><strong><span>.</span></strong></div></div>