Father accused of killing baby, partner has mental disorder: lawyer

The man accused of killing his 11-month-old girl and his partner has a schizoaffective disorder, his lawyer has told a Brisbane court.

Blake Matthew Seers was charged on Tuesday with two counts of murder over the deaths of his partner Kate Paterson, 37, and their daughter April, after their bodies were found in their Logan home last week.

Seers, 38, had been hit by a vehicle that day, March 12, outside a supermarket near his home in Belivah, south of Brisbane.

When officers attended Seers’ home to alert family of his injuries, they instead discovered Paterson’s and April’s bodies.

The accused killer was charged after he regained consciousness in hospital days later.

Detectives at the time suspected the pair had been killed with an edged weapon.

Police said Seers had been reported by witnesses running toward the road, and might have had a neck injury when he was struck on Beaudesert Beenleigh Road at Bannockburn shortly before 7.30am.

Seers’ matter was heard in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning, where his lawyer Nicholas Andrews said his client would need to be assessed in custody for his mental health.

He said Seers was currently in custody under police watch in hospital.

“Mr Seers has a diagnosed schizoaffective disorder,” Andrews said.

Andrews said given the case was from Logan, it would need to be transferred to Beenleigh Magistrates Court, to which the court agreed.

Outside court, Andrews expressed his sympathies for those who had been affected.

“It’s a sensitive matter and our thoughts are with those who have been affected by this tragedy,” he said.

“But at times like this, I just need to remind myself that there is a job to do. It’s currently progressing through the court and there’s some mental health considerations here.”

Seers was remanded in custody, with his case scheduled to be heard in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court next Wednesday.

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