Charges dropped for Perth mum accused of stealing son’s Dreamworld tragedy compensation
Six years after a Perth mother was accused of stealing her son’s six-figure payout from the deadly Dreamworld tragedy in 2016, all charges against her have been dropped.
Michelle Lisa Hanson, 50, and her son Thomas Hanson, who was only 16 at the time, were at the Gold Coast theme park and were traveling behind the unfortunate raft that overturned on October 25, killing four people.
Tom was one of the first people to try to help Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett, Roozbeh Araghi and Cindy Low, who died in the tragedy. He also helped others, including lifting a baby out of the water and carrying him to safety.
Traumatized by the incident, she filed a claim for damages and was eventually awarded $179,000 in damages.
But in 2020, Tom contacted authorities, claiming his mother hid more than $149,000 and only gave him $30,000 of the money.
Since he was also on the journey, Hanson also filed a lawsuit for damages; this case was successful, but it is unknown how much he received.
Police charged him with theft, and Hanson has faced numerous court hearings since. He pleaded not guilty and the matter was brought before the court three times, but Hanson was deemed unfit to stand trial after suffering a stroke in Bali two years ago.
The report submitted to the court stated that he was “experiencing some difficulties” and that this meant he could not defend himself properly.
State prosecutors also said it would be difficult to proceed with future trials because Hanson’s “inability to communicate instructions clearly” and his “poor memory” would “pose significant obstacles.”
The last time he attended court he was using a wheelchair.
The matter took another turn on Thursday after prosecutors told the WA District Court the charges would be dropped because it was “not in the public interest” for the case to proceed.
This decision was forwarded for review by the Director of Public Prosecutions for WA Robert Owen, who approved it.
But during a stay of the hearing, Judge Linda Petrusa said the reason for dropping the charge was “unclear” and backtracked on whether the complainant had been given enough information.
“I am very concerned about this action being taken in a case of this nature,” he said, adding that defendants declared unfit to stand trial could still be tried through a special hearing, “so there may be some resolution to these issues.”
“I think the community at large might have some interest in why the director is exercising the discretion that he has,” he said.
The court heard Hanson’s son and ex-husband had written to the court urging the case to proceed.
They were also said to have initiated civil proceedings against Hanson, who repaid them the amount he allegedly reserved for himself.
In 2024, Tom Hanson was awarded the Group Bravery Award alongside Joedy Charles Vincent as part of the Australian Decorations of Bravery list after being recognized for his actions at the theme park.
They were praised for “jumping to the rescue”, entering the water and trying to revive those thrown from the raft.
In the details released at the time, it was stated that “The children were removed from the area and taken to a safe place.”
Hanson was not in court Thursday to hear the outcome of the hearing.
