THE mother of murdered schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer has paid tribute to her ‘angel’ and vowed not to let her daughter’s death be in vain.
During a packed media conference at Logan Police District Headquarters on Friday, Cindy Palmer also praised police and the community for its help during the 11-month investigation to find her daughter’s killer.
Reading from a prepared statement, Ms Palmer said she was extremely upset that the people entrusted to care for her daughter are now accused of taking her life.
“The only comfort I can take from the situation is that they will never hurt another innocent child,” an emotional Ms Palmer said.
“My other three children will now grow up without their sister and she will forever be an angel.”
“I miss my daughter terribly every day and a piece of my heart is missing.”
The media conference was the first time Ms Palmer had spoken publicly since Tiahleigh’s foster family were charged in relation to her death earlier this week.
On Tuesday, Chambers Flat man Rick Thorburn, 56, was charged with Tiahleigh’s murder and interfering with a corpse.
Rick Thorburn’s wife Julene, 54, and his son Joshua, 20, were also charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice and were granted bail.
His son Trent, 19, was denied bail on charges of incest, two counts of perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Trent Thorburn, 19, is charged with committing incest to Tiahleigh days before her alleged murder on October 29 last year.
Police will allege his father, who originally told police he dropped Tia at school the next day, killed the girl at the family home to cover up his son's alleged crime.
In a speech that lasted about 90 seconds, Ms Palmer thanked the media for keeping Tiahleigh’s death in the spotlight but asked for privacy as the investigation into the schoolgirls death continued.
She also asked supporters to be wary of spreading rumours and speculation that could damage the case police have built against the Thorburns.
“I ask people to let the judicial system do its work,” she said.
Ms Palmer refused to answer questions following the end of the press conference.
Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Damien Hansen also fronted the media on Friday and took questions from journalists.
Inspector Hansen said Mr Thorburn was still refusing to speak to police.
He said a Facebook Messenger exchange with Trent Thorburn’s cousin showed him admitting to having sex with his foster sister on the Monday before she was allegedly killed.
Inspector Hansen said the alleged exchange had been deleted and was only recovered this month, adding that Facebook had been contacted about access to accounts early in the investigation.
Inspector Hansen confirmed Mr Thorburn had been transferred to the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre and said police were considering questioning him again through his lawyer.
"He hasn't spoken to us," he said.
Inspector Hansen said Julene and Joshua were co-operating with detectives.
As police continue to search the Thorburn’s property at Chambers Flat for evidence into Tiahleigh’s murder, Inspector Hansen revealed police had removed several items from the property and had also found evidence that matter had been burnt in a fire in recent months.
» Visit the Jimboomba Times Facebook page for video of the press conference.
EARLIER:
POLICE have started excavating the backyard of a Chambers Flat home owned by murder accused Rick Thorburn as they search for clues into the killing of Tiahleigh Palmer.
On Friday, a large excavator was driven into the property and could later be seen digging holes in the backyard of the two-hectare rural property on Flesser Road.
Several forensic police clad in blue protective suits could be seen working in the backyard as other officers guarded the scene in front of a huge media pack.
Police say they are looking for any evidence that may aid the murder investigation, including Tiahleigh’s school uniform and backpack that have never been found.
Detective Inspector Damien Hansen said forensic police were conducting a "routine" search.
"There's evidence soil has been turned," he said.
"As part of the forensic search, we'll be looking to see if anything has been buried there."
Tiahleigh Palmer’s naked body was found on the banks of the Pimpama River in November last year, a week after she was reported missing on October 30.
Her 54-year-old foster father Rick Thorburn, who claims he dropped Tiahleigh off at Marsden High school that morning, has been charged with her murder.
Mr Thorburn will face court on December 21, where police will allege he murdered Tiahleigh at the Flesser Road property on October 29 last year.
Mr Thorburn’s 19-year-old son Trent has been charged with incest, two counts of perjury and attempting to pervert the course.
He was denied bail in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Mr Thorburn’s wife Julene, 54, and his 20-year-old son Joshua have also been charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
They will face Beenleigh Magistrates Court on October 10.
Under the close watch of police, Ms Thorburn has been allowed to return to her Flesser Road property on three occasions to feed her horses.
