Maree Crabtree Acquitted of All Charges in Son's Death

A Queensland mother has been found not guilty of murder, attempted murder, and fraud following a five-week trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court.

Maree Mavis Crabtree, 59, has been acquitted of all charges related to the death of her 26-year-old son, Jonathan Crabtree, in July 2017. Following the verdict, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) also discontinued other charges against her, including the alleged murder of her daughter, Erin Crabtree, in 2012.

Trial and Verdict

A trial commenced in the Brisbane Supreme Court before Justice Martin Burns. Crabtree pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, attempted murder, and fraud.

The jury found Crabtree not guilty on all charges, including murder, attempted murder, and fraud, as well as an alternative charge of manslaughter.

Discontinuation of Charges

On the Thursday following the verdict, the ODPP discontinued several other charges, including the alleged murder of Erin Crabtree.

According to an ODPP spokesperson, the outcome of the trial triggered a reassessment of the remaining cases. A review of admissible evidence found no reasonable prospect of conviction.

Allegations and Prosecution Case

The prosecution alleged that on July 19, 2017, Crabtree caused her son's death by administering an overdose of prescription painkillers at the family home north of the Gold Coast. The allegation stated that she prepared a fruit smoothie containing a lethal dose of liquid oxycodone and crushed prescription tablets.

The prosecution further alleged that Crabtree had attempted to murder her son in January 2017 and that she made a fraudulent claim of $125,000 on her son's superannuation death benefit following his death.

Central Witness

The prosecution's case was heavily reliant on the testimony of Tara Crabtree, the defendant's daughter and the victim's sister. Tara Crabtree was granted immunity from prosecution by the Attorney General of Queensland for her alleged role in the events.

Tara Crabtree testified that she observed her mother crush prescription painkiller and anti-anxiety tablets with a hammer. She stated her mother added the powder and six bottles of liquid oxycodone to a fruit smoothie and asked her to "keep lookout" for her brother.

According to her testimony, after Jonathan consumed the smoothie, she heard him struggling in his room, but her mother instructed her not to intervene. She also testified that her mother told her to tell police "he committed suicide" if they arrived.

The jury viewed pre-recorded video evidence of Tara Crabtree's testimony. Tara Crabtree also testified that she arranged for a friend to delete Facebook Messenger conversations related to her brother's death. Under cross-examination, she acknowledged she had told "half truth, half lies" about the possibility of her brother's suicide in the two years following his death.

Defense Arguments

Defense counsel Angus Edwards KC argued that the evidence from Tara Crabtree was not reliable, suggesting her account was fabricated and that she may have been responsible for her brother's death.

He proposed alternative explanations for Jonathan's death, including the possibility of suicide or an accidental overdose. The defense noted that Jonathan had a history of drug use, had sustained a traumatic brain injury from a car crash, and had made previous suicide attempts and threats.

Background

The court heard evidence about Jonathan Crabtree's background. He had a history of drug use, including the prescription drug tramadol, and had been charged with robbing a chemist. He sustained permanent injuries from a car crash in 2015 that required physical care. Witness testimony described him as a "troubled man" with abusive behaviors and frequent mood swings.

Additional Testimony and Evidence

• A pathologist determined the cause of death was an excessive amount of oxycodone in the bloodstream.
• Jonathan Crabtree co-owned the family home with his sister and could not be evicted.
• A neighbor, Vicki Inglis, testified that Crabtree said before her son's death that he was "eating her out of house and home." Inglis also stated that Crabtree, on multiple occasions, talked about putting something in one of Jonathan's syringes but did not state the reason was to harm him.
• Rebekah Millard, a former partner, testified about Jonathan's history of drug overdose and suicide threats.

Key Facts About the Verdict

• Verdict: Not guilty on all charges (murder, attempted murder, fraud, manslaughter).
• Subsequent Charges: Discontinued by the ODPP, including the alleged murder of Erin Crabtree.
• Trial Length: Approximately five weeks.
• Witnesses: Over 60 witnesses were scheduled to testify.