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Foster Father Charged With Tiahleigh Palmer Murder In 'Induced Coma'

The 12-year-old's body was found in November.
Tiahleigh Palmer's decomposed body was found in a creek on November 5
Fairfax
Tiahleigh Palmer's decomposed body was found in a creek on November 5

The man charged with the murder of Tiahleigh Palmer has been placed in an induced coma ahead of a scheduled court appearance.

Richard Thorburn, 56, had been expected to appear before a before a magistrate on Wednesday, or go through a bedside hearing, after collapsing in the watchhouse on Tuesday after he was charged with murder and interfering with the 12-year-old's corpse.

The court was told he had been put in an induced coma, before he was remanded in custody to face court on December 21.

#BREAKING Tiahleigh Palmer's foster father has been remanded in custody to face court on December 21 for murder charges

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) September 21, 2016

Thorburn's 19-year-old son was charged with perjury, attempting to pervert the course of justice and incest. He is expected to apply for bail on Wednesday.

In an additional development on Wednesday, Foster mum Julene and her son Josh were reportedly charged with perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The pair have been bailed to appear in court on October 10.

The charges came after Tiahleigh's biological mother Cindy outed Rick Thorburn as the former owner of a car seized by police last week as part of the investigation.

Tiahleigh Palmer's mother Cindy with supporter leaving the Southern Districts Magistrates Court. on September 21, 2016
Fairfax
Tiahleigh Palmer's mother Cindy with supporter leaving the Southern Districts Magistrates Court. on September 21, 2016

Police had been working on the case for 11-months, after Tiahleigh's badly decomposed body was found by fishermen in a creek at Pimpama on November 5.

Suspects in the Tiahleigh Palmer murder investigation arrive under arrest at Logan Police Station on September 20, 2016 in Brisbane, Australia.
Fairfax
Suspects in the Tiahleigh Palmer murder investigation arrive under arrest at Logan Police Station on September 20, 2016 in Brisbane, Australia.

It is understood perjury charges stem from alleged false testimony given to the Crime and Corruption Commission during secret hearings.

Detective Inspector Damien Hansen said it is one of the most difficult he had been involved with.

"There was no person located at the scene admitting it, it was a real 'who dunnit' type of investigation," he said.

"We believe we have sufficient evidence to take this before court."

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