Overview
- The Brisbane Supreme Court jury, after more than two days of deliberation before Monday’s verdict, found Crabtree not guilty of murder, attempted murder, fraud and the fallback charge of manslaughter, and Justice Martin Burns discharged her.
- Prosecutors had alleged she blended oxycodone into her 26-year-old son Jonathan’s fruit smoothie and later sought about $125,000 through his superannuation death benefit, arguing a financial motive tied to fears over the family home.
- Defense counsel argued Jonathan died by suicide or an accidental overdose and said Tara Crabtree’s account was inconsistent and self‑serving, pointing to his history of depression, prior self‑harm, drug addiction and a traumatic brain injury.
- Forensic evidence showed a fatal dose of oxycodone caused Jonathan’s death, yet who administered the drug remained unresolved, with the Crown’s key witness Tara testifying under a rarely used grant of immunity from prosecution.
- Following the acquittal, previously protected exhibits were released, including the triple‑zero call and a note the defense described as a suicide note, capping a five‑week trial that heard from more than 60 witnesses and tendered over 100 exhibits.