A south-east Queensland father has told a coroner the decision to hold an inquest into his baby's mysterious death several years later is "distressing", but he accepts it may help other families.
The child, whose identity has been suppressed, was less than six months old when she was found dead in her family home in 2020.
During a preliminary hearing held in Brisbane, counsel assisting the Coroner Laura Reece KC told the court the baby's father had found her in the morning lying on a bed with a blanket covering her.
"She was unresponsive and she was unable to be revived by paramedics," she said.
The court heard there was a red substance found on her bedding and clothing and a small amount of blood came out of her mouth when resuscitation attempts were made.
Her cause of death could not be determined in an autopsy, but two areas of subdural haemorrhage were found in her brain, the court heard.
Ms Reece told the court a forensic pathologist determined that the haemorrhaging was old and her vacuum extraction at birth was the most likely cause of those injuries.
"In the absence of other findings [the haemorrhages] are considered to be incidental in nature," she said, citing the forensic pathologist's report.
Three possible scenarios identified by police
The court heard police had identified three possible scenarios leading to the baby's death, including her mother deliberately suffocating her.
Their other theories, the court heard, were that she died of accidental overlay from the blanket or her mother rolling onto her, or that she suffered sudden infant death syndrome.
Ms Reece told the court that after the death the parents were interviewed by police, and officers also carried out a search of the mother's internet history.
She said they also placed a listening device into their home.
"Neither parent has made direct admissions… or been charged in respect of the death," she said.
"All of these possible [police] scenarios will need to be explored at the inquest."
Decision to hold inquest 'not made lightly'
Coroner Ainslie Kirkegaard acknowledged the decision to hold a coronial inquiry had impacted the child's parents who "have endeavoured to move on with their lives".
"This process comes a very, very long time after your daughter's death," she said.
"It's a decision I have not made lightly."
She said their little girl was "so much more" than the circumstances in which she died.
The child's father told the court it was it was "only us — Mum and Dad" who still hold onto the pain of her death.
"This process is distressing to us," he said.
He told the court they have been "trying to lead our lives normally" but accepted the inquest may assist in identifying what happened to their baby.
"We are OK, if it helps to find anything that may help some other families not to go through this trauma," he said.
A dozen witnesses are expected to give evidence at the inquest which is set down for three days in April.
