Queensland mum to face trial for allegedly punching baby in face

A Queensland mother accused of punching her baby in the face has lashed out at the media, hurling a bottle and a mobile phone at the press as she left a court hearing.

The woman was allegedly seen repeatedly striking the infant while on the street in the Townsville suburb of North Ward in January 2014, but her lawyer disputes both the claims of the witness and the doctor who examined the child.

At the committal hearing, the woman's barrister contended that the man who reported the alleged assault couldn't actually see what was happening to the baby, the Townsville Bulletin reports.

"He could only see the back of the pram and he said arm movements were going in and out of the pram," Michael O'Dea told the court.

"His evidence is effectively what sets the cat among the pigeons."

The barrister added that he believed the doctor's appraisal had relied heavily on background information.

Magistrate Howard Osborne, however, judged that there was enough evidence for the case to go to trial, and referred the assault charge on to the Townsville District Court.

"In my view a jury could draw an inference and beyond reasonable doubt that (the woman) assaulted the child in the pram," he said.

The mother caused an ugly scene outside the court, verbally abusing attendant journalists and camera crews.