The actions of child protection authorities will be scrutinised by an inquest into the death of a toddler who was viciously bashed and murdered by his stepfather after several notifications of suspected abuse.
Jakob Brown was hit in the torso so ferociously that the contents of his stomach spilled out into his abdomen, causing him extreme pain. But rather than seek medical help, his mother's de facto, Gregory Wayne Hill, let him suffer for hours before killing him with a savage blow to the head.
In the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday Hill, 40, was sentenced to at least 20 years and six months in jail for the March 2008 murder of Jakob at the family home at The Oaks in Sydney’s south-west.
Jakob, aged two years and seven months, had been left in Hill's care while his mother Tracey Brown attended a TAFE course.
Outside the court, Detective Sergeant David Schofield said a number of notifications were made to the then-Department of Community Services regarding the family.
Det Sgt Schofield said the response of child protection authorities to the "pattern of abuse" and "why things weren't done earlier" will be considered at an upcoming inquest into Jakob's death.
The court heard three days before his death, Hill had turned up at Jakob's Sydney pre-school telling staff the toddler had bruises and scratches because he had ‘‘fallen out of the shower’’ and had been ‘‘biting himself’’.
Later that day when staff undressed the boy, they discovered an inflamed bruise on his pelvic area, along with a large, fresh cut on his shoulder.
On the numerous occasions after the boy had been left in the sole care of Hill from 2006 to 2008, severe bruising, swelling and rash-like haemorrhaging to his head, face, neck and shoulders, and bleeding into his nappy had all been noticed.
Jakob’s injuries and symptoms were explained as the result of falls or a pre-existing medical condition.
In sentencing Hill, Justice Geoffrey Bellew said on the day of Jakob's death, ‘‘two separate and distinct acts of wanton violence were perpetrated by the offender upon a helpless and defenceless infant", beginning with a severe blow to his stomach which caused a gastric tear.
Justice Bellew said Jakob would have been "demonstrably unwell" but, rather than seek the medical help he so obviously needed, Hill left the toddler suffering in pain for hours before striking a blow to his head causing a massive skull fracture.
During a sentencing hearing, the court heard Jakob could have survived the gastric tear had he received prompt medical care.
"Following the first, Jakob was left in pain. Following the second, he was left to die. In acting as he did, the offender showed a callous disregard for Jakob’s life," Justice Bellew said.
Jakob was eventually found by another family member covered in blood and vomit in his cot. He was taken to Campbelltown Hospital but could not be revived.
Hill’s claim that Jakob had two minor falls but was "fine" before his death was comprehensively disproved by the forensic evidence.
Det Sgt Schofield said the police investigation was "lengthy, difficult and confronting".
"I can only imagine what that poor child went through in those hours leading up to his death," he said.
Jakob’s father Darren Gibson said: "Greg Hill, you’re a piece of shit, that’s all you are.
"You don’t deserve to go to jail. You deserve a death penalty and that’s it.
"I hope he rots in hell for the rest of his life."
Jakob's mother, Tracy, said Jakob "was beautiful. And he didn't deserve what happened to him."
Hill received less than the standard non-parole period of 25 years' jail after Justice Bellew took into account a number of mitigating factors including his guilty plea, the chronic pain he suffers from a back injury sustained in 2000 and a car crash in 2005 as well as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression.
During sentencing, his lawyers told the court his pain and psychological conditions were not being adequately addressed and Justice Bellew ordered Justice Health look into his treatment.
Hill was sentenced to a maximum of 27 years and six months in jail.
In a statement, the department of Family and Community Services (FACS) said it "was deeply saddened to hear of the death of this little boy and has assisted the NSW Police with their investigations into the circumstances of his death."
"As this matter is being considered by the Coroner, the department will not be commenting further."
