Maree Mavis Crabtree, 59, is found not guilty in Queensland Supreme Court of murdering her son, Jonathan Crabtree, 26, in their Gold Coast home. Jonathan died after what prosecutors alleged was a drug-laced smoothie. Multiple outlets report the five-week trial and describe the case as centered on whether Jonathan’s death was caused by poisoning or by other explanations. The prosecution told the court that Crabtree knew her son had died and directed her daughter not to help Jonathan, instead telling police his death was a suicide. Defence counsel argued there were alternative possibilities for Jonathan’s death, with one outlet noting three potential alternatives were put to the court. After hearing the evidence and submissions, the jury returns a not-guilty verdict, clearing Crabtree of the murder charge. Outlets differ slightly in emphasis, but all report the same outcome: the mother is acquitted of murdering her son in connection with the smoothie case.
Queensland mother Maree Crabtree cleared of murdering son with drug-laced smoothie
Maree Mavis Crabtree, 59, is found not guilty in Queensland Supreme Court of murdering her son, Jonathan Crabtree, 26, in their Gold Coast home. Jonathan died after what prosecutors alleged was a drug...
- Maree Mavis Crabtree, 59, is acquitted of murder in Queensland Supreme Court.
- The case involves the death of her son Jonathan Crabtree, 26, at their Gold Coast home.
- Prosecution alleges Jonathan died after being given a drug-laced smoothie.
- Prosecutors say Crabtree directed her daughter not to help Jonathan and to report the death as a suicide.
- The defence argues alternative explanations for Jonathan’s death, and the jury finds Crabtree not guilty.
See all the previously unseen details in the case of a mother who was found not guilty of feeding her son a lethal fruit smoothie.
3 months agoThe 59-year-old held her face in her hands as she the verdicts were read out.
3 months agoDefence barrister Angus Edwards had argued there were three other possibilities for Jonathan’s death.
3 months agoA Gold Coast mother accused of poisoning her son with a drug-laced smoothie has been found not guilty of murder.
3 months agoMaree Mavis Crabtree faced a five-week Supreme Court trial over the death of her son Jonathan, 26, in their Gold Coast home.
3 months agoMaree Mavis Crabtree faced a five-week Supreme Court trial over the death of her son Jonathan, 26, in their Gold Coast home.
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