This archive report was first published on 16 July 2019.
On June 17, 2014, a tragic incident occurred at the family home in Kallangur, Australia, resulting in the death of three-year-old Sinclair Timberlake. His mother, former TV anchor Esther Arunga, and her husband Quincy Timberlake were at the center of the investigation.
Arunga yesterday pleaded guilty to being an accessory to murder, admitting to lying to police in a bid to help her husband evade punishment. According to Australian Associated Press, Arunga initially told police that Sinclair had fallen down the stairs, but a postmortem examination revealed that the boy died as a result of a severe blunt force, inconsistent with a fall.
Quincy Timberlake is accused of killing their son, and Arunga's initial statement diverted the spotlight away from her husband for 26 days. It was not until Quincy was involuntarily admitted to a mental health facility that Arunga changed her statement, revealing that she had witnessed her husband hitting Sinclair in the stomach.
Arunga claimed her husband was saying 'there's a devil in his stomach, I have to get it out' and that Quincy had a strong arm, stating 'even a grown man can't survive that punch.' The court heard that Arunga did not speak up earlier because she was afraid, fearing being alone and feeling terrible for her husband's condition.
Justice Martin Burns will sentence Arunga on Thursday.
