The parents of a young child have appeared in court bruised, sobbing and charged with the murder of respected Adelaide paediatrician Michael Yung.

Kerem Aydin, 22, and Jacinta Davila, 27, were arrested outside an Adelaide shopping centre after the top doctor’s death in an apparent home invasion triggered a high-level major crime investigation.

The pair faced Adelaide Magistrates Court via video link on Wednesday charged with murder, aggravated serious criminal trespass and committing theft using force.

Magistrate Michael Jandy heard the couple was linked to the crime scene by DNA evidence found at the 61-year-old father’s Gilberton home, in Adelaide’s inner northern suburbs.

Davila’s DNA was found on a headtorch at the suspected entry point, adjacent to a fly screen that had been sliced open, while Aydin was linked to blood stains at the scene.

CCTV footage showed two people outside the house at the time of the attack, but the quality of the footage was not strong enough to positively identify them on its own, Jandy heard.

Dr Yung was heard asking the defendants how they got into the house before loud noises and a scream, the court was told.

The rear door was smashed and the victim was found nearby suffering head and spinal injuries.

The court heard the pair was arrested outside a shopping centre after they had attempted to shoplift a first aid kit from a Chemist Warehouse to patch up Aydin’s injuries, allegedly sustained during the break-in.

The pram-pushing couple was apprehended at an Adelaide mall. Photo: Seven News

Glass fragments were found on shoes at the defendants’ home, while blood-stained clothing was recovered from a washing machine, the prosecutor said.

Aydin, sporting a bandage over a bruised and swollen left eye, did not apply for bail.

Davila, who sobbed throughout her appearance, will return to court next week when Jandy will consider releasing her on home detention bail.

Her lawyer said she was effectively the single parent of the pair’s eight-month-old son and remaining in custody throughout a lengthy trial would bring undue hardship on the child.

The Thebarton couple had unsuccessfully attempted co-parenting after the child was conceived during a one-night stand, he said.

Jandy said he was inclined to accept the defence case that special circumstances should be afforded to Davila because of her parental obligations but he was yet to make his mind up about releasing her on bail.

The prosecution opposed her bail, arguing the alleged offending was serious in nature, the case against her was a strong one and she was a risk of tampering with evidence.

Whilst there was a relatively strong case that Davila had tampered with evidence by attempting to wash blood from their clothing, there was an obvious question mark surrounding the strength of evidence attaching her to the crime scene at the time, Jandy said.

While he acknowledged her DNA was found at the crime scene, he said there was the potential for secondary transfer from her to the crime scene via Aydin.

“Absent of any other evidence putting this defendant at the scene of the crime at the time, the case will remain possibly equivocal in relation to her,” Jandy said.

The pair are due back in court for a charge determination hearing in March.

‘Devastated’: doctor’s family shares grief

Dr Michael Yung had ‘devoted his life to the care of vulnerable children’. Photo: SA Police

Dr Yung’s family expressed their heartbreak in a moving tribute to the respected doctor late Wednesday.

He died on Tuesday surrounded by friends and family at the Royal Adelaide Hospital after sustaining serious injuries to his head and spine in a violent break-in on Monday.

Dr Yung’s family expressed their profound gratitude to first responders and medical staff for the care they provided the father of two in his final hours.

“We are all absolutely devastated by Michael’s death,” they said in a statement.

“He was a loving and loved father, son, brother, uncle and cousin. His death has left a hole in our hearts that will never be filled.”

Dr Yung was described as a “knowledgeable, skilled and compassionate” specialist, who devoted his life to the care of vulnerable children.

He established a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit in Kilifi, Kenya, and also worked in remote Indigenous communities.

“Michael was a wise and patient teacher and mentor to generations of aspiring ICU doctors,” his family said.

“He was loved and respected by his colleagues, staff and students and all those who were privileged to know and work with him.”

Tributes flowed for Dr Yung, who was head of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital’s pediatric intensive care medical unit.

“This is an absolute tragedy,” SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said on X, formerly Twitter.

SA Health Minister Chris Picton said it was an incredibly sad day for the state’s health family.

“Dr Michael Yung has been there for so many South Australian children and families at their darkest times – now it is time for all of us to be there for him and his family,” he wrote on X.

Women’s and Children’s Health Network acting chief executive Rebecca Graham, in a note to staff, said Dr Yung would be greatly missed by the many families he had supported.

In lieu of flowers, she and Dr Yung’s family urged people to donate to the Kathryn Browne-Yung Scholarship fund he set up in his late wife’s honour.

“The foundation supports scholarships for Indigenous medical students,” his family said.

“If people wish to remember Michael we invite them to contribute to this foundation.”

-AAP