A TEENAGER accused of bashing his 25-day-old child at Bunbury Regional Hospital could face a murder charge if the child does not survive.
Major Crime detectives are waiting on results from a neurological scientist to see if the baby has a chance of survival.
The results could take between 24 and 48 hours.
The 15-year-old Bunbury boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faced Bunbury Magistrates Court on Monday on a grievous bodily harm charge.
The teen appeared by video link from Banksia Hill Detention Centre accused of assaulting his son at the hospital on Saturday.
The baby was flown to Princess Margaret Hospital with severe head injuries where he remains in a critical condition and on life support.
Since the incident all medical decisions relating to the baby will now be made by department of child protection and family support chief Terry Murphy.
In court the accused was not required to enter a plea and the case was adjourned until February 28 for a bail application.
Child protection minister Helen Morton has ordered the department of child protection to conduct a full investigation into the matter.
She told media yesterday the department had been involved with the accused teen since he was 12 years old.
