Maree Mavis Crabtree, a 59-year-old woman, faced trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court over allegations that she murdered her 26-year-old son, Jonathan, using an overdose of prescription painkillers. The incident reportedly occurred on July 19, 2017, at their family home, with Crabtree subsequently filing a $125,000 insurance claim.
After nearly two and a half days of deliberation, the jury reached a verdict, finding Crabtree not guilty of all charges, including murder, attempted murder, and fraud.
During the trial, the jury learned that Jonathan, who partly owned the residence, struggled with a violent drug addiction and a traumatic brain injury, making eviction a challenge.
Testimony revealed that Crabtree allegedly expressed to a neighbor a wish that Jonathan had perished in a previous car accident, saying, “I wish Jonathan had died in the car accident. I wish he was dead.” However, this statement was later argued by the defense as being taken out of context.
The court was also informed of Crabtree’s actions in stockpiling oxycodone prescribed to her daughter, Tara. Despite this, when Jonathan was discovered deceased in his bedroom, no traces of the painkiller were found near his body.
Jurors were told Crabtree had stockpiled Tara’s oxycodone medication and Jonathan was found dead in his bedroom with no signs of the painkiller around his body.
The court heard Crabtree allegedly told Tara not to help Jonathan if she heard him struggling after drinking the drug‑laced smoothie, and to tell police it was a suicide.
Tara waited two‑and‑a‑half years before changing her account to police, saying she was angry at being confined in hospital for seven months.
She has been granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for her testimony.
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