Gold Coast mother Maree Crabtree stands trial for alleged murder of son via spiked smoothie
Consensus Summary
A Gold Coast mother, Maree Crabtree, is on trial for allegedly murdering her 26-year-old son Jonathan by spiking a fruit smoothie with oxycodone in July 2017. Both sources confirm she pleaded not guilty to murder, attempted murder, and fraud related to a dishonest superannuation claim. Jonathanâs body was found with signs of death hours before emergency services arrived, and his sister Tara, granted immunity, will testify about her motherâs alleged role. Consensus facts include Jonathanâs troubled backgroundâdrug abuse, a pharmacy robbery charge, and injuries from a 2015 car crashâas well as a prior domestic disturbance in March 2017 where Jonathan allegedly threatened his mother. The prosecution alleges Maree Crabtree deliberately poisoned her son, while the defense portrays her as a desperate mother dealing with a violent, suicidal son. Key contradictions involve the trialâs duration (five weeks vs. three weeks), the location of a Spider-Man backpack containing medication, and the timing of Taraâs testimony. The case hinges on whether the jury believes Taraâs account of her motherâs alleged actions, with the defense questioning her credibility.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Maree Mavis Crabtree pleaded not guilty to murder, attempted murder, and attempted fraud in connection with her son Jonathan Crabtree's death in July 2017
- Jonathan Crabtree (26) was found dead after allegedly consuming a fruit smoothie spiked with oxycodone prepared by his mother on July 18, 2017
- The trial began in Brisbane Supreme Court on April 7, 2020, and is expected to last five weeks (ABC) or just over three weeks (NEWSCOMAU)
- Maree Crabtree allegedly called emergency services on July 19, 2017, stating her son was not breathing, but declined CPR due to a bad back
- Emergency services found Jonathan Crabtree showing obvious signs of death hours before their arrival, including rigor mortis and cold limbs
- Maree Crabtree allegedly made a dishonest claim against Jonathanâs superannuation fund for a death benefit worth $100,000 or more
- Police attended the Crabtree family home on March 4, 2017, for a domestic disturbance involving threats of violence from Jonathan toward his mother
- Jonathan Crabtree was a troubled young man with a history of drug abuse, a robbery charge (chemist robbery), and permanent injuries from a 2015 car crash
- Tara Crabtree (Jonathanâs sister) was granted immunity from prosecution and will testify about her motherâs alleged involvement in the poisoning
- The house where Jonathan died was owned by Jonathan and Tara, but Maree Crabtree claimed financial contribution to its construction
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Prosecutor Caroline Marco alleged Maree Crabtree deliberately prepared a drink with oxycodone in a kitchen blender on July 18, 2017, using a great quantity of the drug to disguise the smell with fruit
- Tara Crabtree allegedly helped her mother by keeping lookout during the preparation of the drink and witnessed Jonathan struggling and coughing after consuming it
- Tara Crabtree allegedly saw her mother crushing up tablets in a milkshake in January 2017 (first alleged attempt) and added medication to a blender in July 2017
- Defense lawyer Angus Edwards questioned whether Tara Crabtreeâs account was credible, noting she only came up with the story more than two years after Jonathanâs death
- Defense argued Jonathan was a âviolent, suicidal, drug addictâ and Maree Crabtreeâs actions were contextually understandable as a mother living with a troubled son
- The prosecution alleged Maree Crabtree told Tara that Jonathanâs pharmacy robbery put the familyâs finances in jeopardy, which was her reason for wanting to kill him
- The trial is expected to hear from about 60 witnesses, including Tara Crabtree, neighbors, a pharmacist, and emergency services
- The trial is set to run for just over three weeks, with jurors expected to be picked on April 7, 2020, and presided over by Justice Martin Burns
- Sergeant Mathew Dowling testified that Jonathan threatened to beat his mother over the head or with a shovel during the March 2017 domestic disturbance
- Sergeant Dowling recalled Jonathan was owed $30 per week in allowance but claimed the family was broke due to drug use
- Maree Crabtree allegedly expressed frustration that the house was in Jonathan and Taraâs name following insurance money, causing friction
- A detective found a Spider-Man backpack at the front door containing medication packets and prescription stickers, contradicting paramedicsâ testimony about its location
- The trial is described as a âhighly anticipated caseâ with a focus on interrogating Maree Crabtreeâs alleged involvement in Jonathanâs death
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC states the trial is expected to run for five weeks with 60 witnesses, while NEWSCOMAU says it will last just over three weeks
- ABC reports paramedics noticed a Spider-Man backpack near Jonathanâs body, but NEWSCOMAUâs detective testified the bag was found at the front door
- ABC claims Tara Crabtreeâs testimony about the poisoning was only provided more than two years after Jonathanâs death, but NEWSCOMAU does not mention this timing
- ABC describes the trial as beginning on April 7, 2020, while NEWSCOMAU also states this date but does not specify the exact start time of jury selection
- NEWSCOMAUâs Sergeant Dowling recalls Jonathan threatening his mother with a shovel, but ABC does not mention this specific detail in the domestic violence incident
Source Articles
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