A man accused of murdering a baby during a break-in has blamed his friend for the crime and suggested the killing may have been related to a conflict over drugs, court documents show.
Harley Hicks, 20, of North Bendigo, has been committed to stand trial for the murder of baby Zayden Veal during a burglary at a Bendigo home on June 15 last year.
Hicks, however, told an undercover police officer his friend Aiden Kirby had been in conflict with Zayden's family and killed the 11-month-old as a result, court documents show.
Hicks unwittingly told the officer he and Mr Kirby had been on a burglary spree in the neighbourhood on the night Zayden died, according to documents tendered in his committal hearing on Friday.
Before parting ways, Hicks said he saw Mr Kirby heading towards Zayden's home.
"Hicks stated that he and Kirby shook hands and that he asked Kirby whether he wanted a lift home, to which Kirby replied 'I've got better things to do'," the undercover officer said in a statement.
"Hicks recalled he last saw Kirby walking toward the house where the infant was murdered.
"Hicks said that Kirby used to purchase drugs from the dead infant's parents and believed that there could have been some issues between the parties which resulted in Kirby murdering their child."
Mr Kirby has not been charged in connection with Zayden's death.
Casey Veal found her son Zayden in blood-stained sheets moments after realising their home in the Bendigo suburb of Long Gully had been robbed as they slept.
Ms Veal and her partner Mathew Tisell tried to revive Zayden before he was raced to hospital where he was pronounced dead with cuts, bruises and fractures covering his body.
Hicks' committal hearing in Bendigo Magistrates' Court heard that police linked Hicks to Zayden's death, given he was a suspect in robberies from nearby homes and cars on the night in question.
Hicks allegedly entered the home armed with a baton and stole two wallets and a pair of sunglasses.
After his arrest on June 19, Hicks was placed in a prison cell with the undercover officer where he made the accusations against Mr Kirby.
Hicks is charged with aggravated burglary, theft and murder.
He will face a directions hearing ahead of his trial in the Victorian Supreme Court on September 30.
