Maree Mavis Crabtree facing fraud charges after being accused and cleared of two murders
A woman cleared of killing two of her adult children with prescription drugs over a five-year period could still face prosecution on other charges.
A mother cleared of allegedly murdering two of her adult children with drug overdoses now faces a wait to see if prosecutors will drop her remaining charges.
Maree Mavis Crabtree, 59, was in May found not guilty of the murder and attempted murder of her 26‑year‑old son Jonathan at the family’s Gold Coast home in 2017.
The charge against Ms Crabtree for allegedly murdering her 18-year-old daughter Erin in 2012 was dropped during a review of the case in Brisbane Supreme Court in June.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Ms Crabtree’s remaining fraud charges brought by Queensland and Commonwealth prosecutors were mentioned in Brisbane District Court on Thursday.
“We are currently considering to what extent this decision (to drop the murder charge) may impact on the Commonwealth charges,” a federal legal officer told Judge Tony Moynihan.
“As such we are seeking a four-week adjournment.”
Crown prosecutor Zachary Kaplan also sought an adjournment for Ms Crabtree’s state-level indictment on a single fraud charge.
“We have made a decision that we are going to wait until the Commonwealth indictment is finalised before we press our charge,” Mr Kaplan said.
Ms Crabtree stood trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court in April accused of killing her 26‑year‑old son Jonathan by lacing his fruit smoothie with prescription painkillers on July 19, 2017 before making a $125,000 insurance claim.
The jury in May returned verdicts of not guilty to murder, attempt to murder and fraud after deliberating for nearly two-and-a-half days.
Ms Crabtree was on bail and not required for the mention on Thursday and did not attend court.
She had been granted bail and released from custody in February 2024 after a judge questioned the strength of the prosecution’s case due to the first attempt to convict her over Jonathan’s death ending in a mistrial.
Ms Crabtree had spent six years on remand at that point.
Her solicitor Kate Droney on Thursday did not oppose the adjournment.
“I need to take instructions from Ms Crabtree,” she said.
“We are seeking an updated statement of facts.”
Judge Moynihan adjourned the matter and listed both Crabtree’s state and Commonwealth indictments for mention on August 20.
