Maree Crabtree walks free on bail after spending six years in custody for alleged murder of her two children

A woman awaiting separate trials for the alleged murders of her two adult children has walked free from Brisbane Supreme Court for the first time in six years.

Maree Mavis Crabtree is charged with two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and attempted fraud following the death of her daughter Erin, 18, in September 2012 and her son Jonathan Crabtree, 26, in July 2017.

She is also charged with 11 Commonwealth offences linked to alleged fraud.

The 57-year-old was arrested in 2018 following a police investigation into her two adult children’s deaths.

Erin and Jonathan both died of fatal overdoses of oxycodone in the family home in Maudsland on the Gold Coast.

On Wednesday, Ms Crabtree was granted bail one day after a jury was discharged after hearing evidence about Jonathan’s alleged murder, attempted murder and attempted fraud.

Ms Crabtree’s glee was hard to contain as she sat in the dock when Justice Peter Davis granted her bail.

She was seen smiling at Queensland Corrections officers, waving her hands about and also mouthing ‘yay’ repeatedly as his honour granted her bail application.

But it took more than seven hours before she was able to walk outside for the first time in six years, albeit wearing an ankle monitor.

Ms Crabtree was met by a support person as she left the courthouse flanked by two Queensland Corrective Officers, who walked her to the door.

She didn’t say anything to the waiting media, then tried to shield her face from the cameras as she walked down the street carrying a brown paper bag.

It’s the first time since her arrest in 2018 that she’s been allowed to return to the community.

She had pleaded not guilty to all three charges on January 29 in the Brisbane Supreme Court.

The trial was adjourned for nearly a week after documents were discovered and both the Crown and defence required time to investigate further.

She is yet to stand trial for her daughter’s alleged murder.

Justice Davis granted the Gold Coast woman’s bail on the condition she wears an ankle monitor and doesn’t have any contact with her daughter – and only living child – Tara Crabtree, who is the Crown’s key witness.

‘The trial was aborted when it became apparent that a significant amount of documents which might be relevant to the credibility of the main witness, Ms Crabtree’s daughter Tara, became available,’ Justice Davis said.

‘That material indicated that there was further material and other avenues of inquiry that had to be pursued.

‘An application was made by the defence to discharge the jury and that was sensibly not opposed by the crown.’

A court drawing of Maree Crabtree while she was standing trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court before the jury were discharged

Crown prosecutor Philip McCarthy KC told the court he opposed the bail application as it created a potential ‘risk endangering the safety and welfare’ of Tara.

Mr McCarthy agreed Ms Crabtree wasn’t a flight risk if released but raised concerns with the court that she’s charged with murdering her two children and ‘there’s one child remaining’.

The court was told Tara has indemnity from being prosecuted despite her allegedly being involved in the death of her brother in some form.

Justice Davis said the concerns about Tara’s safety would be ameliorated by Ms Crabtree wearing an ankle monitor.

‘The Crown case in relation to the charges concerning Jonathan depends on the evidence of Tara,’ he said.

‘She’s a witness who is indemnified, who on her own version is party to the murder.’

Justice Davis said Tara has ‘probably destroyed evidence to the case and has perjured evidence’ over the years since her mother was charged.

‘She’s apparently caused another to destroy evidence (and has) quite significant mental issues,’ he said.

‘Over the years she’s given different versions of events surrounding Jonathan’s death.’

Ms Crabtree’s defence barrister, Angus Edwards, said his client would not ‘resist’ wearing an ankle monitor because it would prevent people from making false claims she’s gone to ‘particular places’.

‘There are a number of what might be unusual witnesses who tried to inject themselves into the investigation,’ Mr Edwards said.

Ms Crabtree will live at a Bethania home in Logan, Queensland, as part of her bail conditions and must not contact any witnesses unless through a lawyer.

The matter has been adjourned to March 11 for further mention.

Justice Davis said he would allow the Crown time to examine the 2500 Public Guardian documents that were discovered during the middle of the trial.

He said he had ‘shortcomings’ about the strength of both murder cases.

Despite this, the Crown indicated it intended to proceed with all charges against Ms Crabtree.

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