A woman has been found guilty of murdering a foster-child in her care, in country New South Wales.
The woman, who is now 45 and cannot be named for legal reasons, faced a judge-only trial in the Supreme Court, accused of murdering the 20-month-old boy on a property near Dubbo in the state's Central West.
After hearing almost three weeks of evidence, Justice Richard Cavanagh found her guilty and she was taken into custody.
Justice Cavanagh found the woman intentionally assaulted the child, and his injuries could not have been accidental.
"The force applied to cause the injuries would have been significant," he said.
The boy died in March 2015 after suffering head and stomach injuries, a broken femur and bruising over his body.
The woman lived with her partner and three other children.
One child told police that the woman forced the foster-child into a bath the night before he was found unresponsive, and that she was angry with him.
The court was presented with evidence that the foster-mother called triple-0 at about 5am on March 23, 2015, and was heard saying, '"Will I get into trouble?" and, "They're going to think I bashed him."
Paramedics found the toddler looking pale and bruised. There was vomit around his mouth and his eyes did not respond normally.
Justice Cavanagh revoked the woman's bail and said she would remain in custody until she was sentenced.
The child's death sparked an inquiry into a New South Wales foster-care provider.
