Breaking: Gold Coast woman Maree Mavis Crabtree cleared of son Jonathan's murder

Maree Crabtree (centre) denied killing her son Jonathan. (AAP: Darren England) Link copiedShareShare articleA Gold Coast woman accused of fatally drugging her son with a smoothie laced with prescription medication has been cleared of his murder. Maree Mavis Crabtree faced a trial in the Supreme Court in Brisbane, charged over the death of Jonathan Crabtree at their Maudsland home. She pleaded not guilty to his murder, an earlier attempted murder and fraud. After hearing evidence from more than 60 witnesses across five weeks, a jury retired to deliberate on Thursday afternoon. On Monday, they returned a not guilty verdict on all three charges. They also found her not guilty on the alternative charge of manslaughter. Maree Mavis Crabtree was on trial for the alleged murder of her son. (AAP: Jason O'Brien) During the trial, the jury heard the 26-year-old was found dead on his bed by paramedics in July 2017 from an apparent overdose. Prosecutors had alleged on two occasions, including the night before he was discovered, the 59-year-old blended and served her son the fruit drink, which she had spiked with prescription drugs including toxic levels of liquid Oxycodone. After his death, it was alleged Ms Crabtree then fraudulently made an insurance claim through his superannuation fund. Central to the prosecution's case was key witness Tara Crabtree, the sister of Mr Crabtree and daughter of Ms Crabtree. She had alleged in her testimony, that she was present with her mother on both occasions when she made her son the drinks. Jonathan Crabtree died from a fatal dose of prescription medication in July 2017. (Twitter: Maree Crabtree) Tara Crabtree alleged her mother wanted her son dead, as he was a financial burden, and a "horrible person" to them both. During closing arguments Ms Crabtree's lawyer, Angus Edwards KC poked holes in her evidence, telling the jury her inconsistent answers proved what she said was "an out and out lie". "If you don't believe her story, you cannot convict," he urged the jury. Early in the trial the prosecution revealed to the jury that Tara Crabtree had a "rarely exercised" immunity from prosecution granted by the state's Attorney General. Tara Crabtree (centre) gave evidence at her mother Maree's murder trial at the Supreme Court in Brisbane. (ABC News) At one point in his arguments, Mr Edwards put it to the jury Tara Crabtree may have "walked away untouched" from causing her brother's death, and taken all his money and their previously part-owned home. "Have the prosecution made a deal with the devil?" he put to the jury. However, in her closing argument, Crown prosecutor Caroline Marco told the jury Tara Crabtree's evidence was "honest and reliable" and should not be overlooked for getting "inconsequential" information incorrect. "There is a lot of other evidence… that circumstantially tends to prove the guilt of the defendant." Ms Marco told the jury there was evidence she had "a clear financial motive" to kill Mr Crabtree. "The defendant found herself in the position where she could do no longer tolerate living with her son," she said. Maree Mavis Crabtree is seen attending her murder trial at the Supreme Court in Brisbane, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AAP Image: Jason O’Brien) The jury heard evidence that for several years Mr Crabtree had been a prescription drug addict and had previously attempted to self-harm. Mr Edwards told the jury he had "a lot of demons" and the most likely scenario was he killed himself while trying "to get high" or on purpose. "Did he take that overdose, and if he did, was it a suicide, a deliberate overdose of drugs or was it an accidental overdose?" he said. Ms Marco told the jury there was "no reason" for Mr Crabtree to take Oxycodone specifically, "if he desired either of those outcomes". "There was a plethora of prescription medication found," she said. She urged the jury to find Ms Crabtree guilty of murdering her son for financial gain. "We say on the whole of the evidence… you will accept that is what occurred," she said. Ultimately the jury disagreed with the prosecution. Ms Crabtree was discharged and free to leave court. Copy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top Stories'Got no friends left': Jewish teen bullied playing Minecraft, royal commission toldTopic:Royal Commissions

Breaking: Gold Coast woman Maree Mavis Crabtree cleared of son Jonathan's murder

Key takeaways

Also covered by

Breaking: Gold Coast woman Maree Mavis Crabtree cleared of son Jonathan's murder

Key takeaways

Also covered by

More in international