A WA father has had an assault charge against his baby son, who was six weeks old at the time, upgraded to murder after the boy lost a year-long fight for life in hospital.
Micheal Ashely MacRae was originally charged with causing grievous bodily harm to his son Nathaniel, who was rushed to Narrogin hospital in WA's Wheatbelt with severe injuries in October 2017.
Nathaniel, who suffered a brain injury, survived until October last year, just after his first birthday.
His mother, Erica-Leigh Lawrence, previously told the ABC her son was "a fighter who continued to fight until his last breath".
Mr MacRae had previously pleaded not guilty to the grievous bodily harm charge, but on Monday in the Supreme Court prosecutors said the case had been upgraded to murder.
He had previously been on bail, but because he is now facing the murder charge, that was revoked and he was remanded in custody.
His lawyer, Edward Fitzpatrick, said his client would be making a bail application, which was set down to be heard in a fortnight.
Tentative trial dates have been set down for April next year.
Members of Nathaniel's family were in court for Mr MacRae's appearance and outside said they were happy the charge against him had been upgraded.
