A Gold Coast mother accused of murdering her two adult children hopes to face two separate trials for the alleged murders, a court has been told.
Maree Mavis Crabtree, 57, from Maudsland, is accused of murdering her 18-year-old daughter Erin in 2012 and her 26-year-old son Jonathan in 2017.
The Crown prosecution case against Crabtree will allege in court that he gave Erin a fatal drug overdose before leaving her to go sailing with Jonathan in 2012.
Jonathan also died of a fatal drug overdose in 2017.
Initially, both deaths were ruled suicides before Crabtree was later charged with murder.
Maree Mavis Crabtree, 57, who is accused of murdering her two adult children hopes to have two separate trials for the alleged murders, the court has been told.News.com.au
It will also be alleged that Crabtree heavily medicated his children to keep them both bedridden and claimed disability payments on their behalf.
He also allegedly claimed insurance after their deaths.
Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Philip McCarthy KC told the Brisbane Supreme Court on Friday the case against Crabtree was “a bit complicated” because of the range of evidence relating to the two deaths.
McCarthy said the court could still proceed with the two murder charges being tried together because the evidence was “cross-admissible.”
Crabtree is accused of murdering his 18-year-old daughter Erin in 2012 and his 26-year-old son Jonathan in 2017.News.com.au
Crabtree’s barrister, Angus Edwards, told the court that he intended to make an application to “severe” the manslaughter charge relating to Erin’s death from the other charges before the court.
Judge Davis ordered the Crown to prepare its arguments as to why the application should be refused.
The matter was adjourned for further review on October 18.
Crabtree is also charged with one count of attempted murder, one count of torture, two counts of fraud, and four counts of attempted fraud.
The torture charge is related to Crabtree’s alleged drugging of other women over the years in the same manner as her children.
Crabtree will go on trial in January.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
