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AAP
AAP
National
Rex Martinich

Baby drowning manslaughter accused to seek bail release

Jaye Lee Walton faces a manslaughter charge after a baby's drowning in a lake. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

A man accused of manslaughter over a baby's drowning at a lakeside campsite intends to apply for bail, a magistrate has heard.

Jaye Lee Walton was not required to appear in person in Ipswich Magistrates Court on Wednesday for the first mention of his charge of manslaughter as a domestic violence offence.

The 42-year-old was arrested on Tuesday after seven-month-old boy Reef Hunter Walton was discovered on the weekend by his mother in a lake at Chatsworth Park, near Gympie north of Brisbane.

The man was known to the child, police said.

A makeshift memorial with a sign stating "RIP little one" was reportedly placed at the campsite overnight.

Defence solicitor Mark Butler told Magistrate Robert Walker he would need to determine whether Walton was presumed to be entitled to bail or would have to argue he should not be detained.

"It's a discussion with (the prosecutor's) office about a point of law issue, whether (Walton) finds himself in a show-cause position and if agreement can be reached on that point," Mr Butler said.

"I anticipate an application for bail will be made tomorrow."

The boy's family were passing through on their way back to far north Queensland and camped at Chatsworth Park about 50m from the water's edge on Friday night, police said.

The mother called emergency services after she found her child unresponsive in the lake on Saturday morning.

People performed CPR before the baby was rushed to hospital, but the child was declared dead later that night.

Defence solicitor Mark Butler leaving court
Defence solicitor Mark Butler hopes to make a bail application for his client. (Rex Martinich/AAP PHOTOS)

Police on Monday said the mother was unable to explain how the infant ended up in the water.

"The mother of the child did retrieve this child from the water. It's been a very traumatic experience for her clearly," Detective Inspector Craig Mansfield told reporters.

Walton was later arrested after homicide detectives took up the case.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Jo Colston on Wednesday did not oppose Mr Butler's application to adjourn the matter for one day.

Mr Walker ordered Walton be remanded in custody to appear in person in Ipswich Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Mr Butler declined to comment outside court.

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