Father killed schoolgirl to protect son, police allege
Tiahleigh's foster father Rick Thorburn escorted by police from the Logan Central Police Station after questioning in relation to her death. Photo: AAP
UPDATE: 11.30AM
The man accused of murdering his foster daughter Tiahleigh Palmer has been put in an induced coma, it has been revealed on the day he was due for his first court appearance.
Rick Thorburn was charged yesterday with murdering the 12-year-old and interfering with her corpse, with the arrest coming 11 months after Tiahleigh’s body was found.
Thorburn had dropped Tiahleigh off at school the morning she disappeared.
Six days later fishermen found her naked body on the banks of the Pimpama River.
Thorburn, who was a pallbearer at Tiahleigh’s funeral, collapsed at the police watchhouse last night after being charged and was taken to hospital.
His lawyer Kelly Thompson visited the Princess Alexandra Hospital this morning, telling a court hearing the 56-year-old had been put into an induced coma.
The case was adjourned until December 21.
Father allegedly killed girl to protect son
More members of Tiahleigh Palmer’s foster family have been charged, after allegedly trying to cover up the Queensland schoolgirl’s alleged murder by her foster father, who remains in hospital.
Foster father Rick Thorburn, wife Julene, and their two sons, aged 19 and 20, were taken into custody yesterday after police swooped on their Chambers Flat home, south of Brisbane.
Rick Thorburn was charged soon after with murdering the 12-year-old and interfering with her corpse, while other members of Tiahleigh Palmer’s foster family have also been charged in connection to the Queensland schoolgirl’s murder.
Overnight, foster mother Julene Thorburn, 54, and son Josh Thorburn, 20, were charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Meanwhile, The Courier-Mail has reported that younger son, Trent Thorburn, 19, has also been charged with incest, attempting to pervert the course of justice and perjury.
The paper reports that police will allege that Rick Thorburn murdered Palmer to protect Trent, who was allegedly involved in an illegal sexual relationship with the 12-year-old Logan schoolgirl.
Trent Thorburn was allegedly sexually involved with Tiahleigh Palmer, police say. Photo: Instagram
The mother and Josh will appear in Beenleigh Magistrates court on October 10.
Tiahleigh disappeared from Logan, south of Brisbane, in October last year and her body was found days later on the banks of a river.
The 11-month investigation which involved 50 detectives came to a head yesterday.
Tiahleigh’s biological mother Cindy revealed the 2009 Ford Falcon XR6 seized by police last week had belonged to Rick Thorburn.
