A registered nurse who caused her sick nephew’s death by denying him medical treatment will have to wait to learn her fate in a Queensland court.

August 16, 2019

A Brisbane nurse convicted of causing her nephew’s death by failing to seek medical treatment for a fatal illness in a bid to hide years of abuse is set to learn her fate

Jodie Maree Powell, 46, was Curtis Powell’s long-term carer before the 10-year old’s death from bronchopneumonia in July 2015.

An autopsy also found more than 200 injuries on his body.

Many were caused by Powell’s excessive disciplining over a three-and-a-half-year period, the Brisbane Supreme Court heard on Friday.

“It included things like banging Curtis’s head on wall, use of power cords, wooden spoons, belts and a metal fork,” crown prosecutor David Nardone said.

“He was struck on head, stomach, legs, arms, back and neck causing bruises, cuts and abrasions.”

The court heard that in the lead up to Curtis’ death he had been suffering from extensive bronchopneumonia.

“It was of such severity he would have been extremely unwell, described as him having a high fever, high heart rate and difficulty breathing,” Mr Nardone said.

Despite this, Powell failed to seek medical treatment for the boy.

Curtis died in front of his siblings after he lost consciousness and stopped breathing on July 15.

Powell didn’t call paramedics, instead she drank alcohol in an attempt to end her life so she would have to go to jail, Mr Nardone said she later told police.

She also threatened his siblings, cautioning them to hide the truth, he said.

Defence lawyer Tim Ryan didn’t dispute the facts.

Instead, he advocated for a reduced sentence based on Powell’s early plea of guilty and her alcohol abuse, which he said was caused by her abuse as a child and a deteriorating relationship with her then partner.

Justice Martin Burns said evidence that a trained nurse had decided not to seek medical attention because it would put it in her position where she would need to account for Curtis’ injuries was compelling and powerful.

“She knew the child was sick …. she chose not to seek medical attention … she put herself before the child.”

Powell will be sentenced on Wednesday.