‘No fruit’ in home of drug smoothie murder accused
Rex Martinich
A woman accused of murdering her son by hiding drugs in his smoothie found no traces of fresh fruit in her home following a police search, a jury has heard.
Maree Mavis Crabtree, 59, pleaded not guilty in the Brisbane Supreme Court to the murder of her 26-year-old son Jonathan by a painkiller overdose at his family’s north Gold Coast home on July 19, 2017.
Crown prosecutor Caroline Marco told the jury that Jonathan’s sister Tara, who was granted immunity from prosecution, would testify that her mother hid a lethal amount of painkillers in a fruit smoothie while she was on guard duty.
The jury on Wednesday heard evidence from Queensland Police Sergeant Michael Simmonds, who searched the Crabtree family home on July 19, 2017.
Defense lawyer Angus Edwards asked Simmonds if officers conducted a thorough search of his home, including his kitchen and fridge, and took hundreds of photographs.
“Yes,” said Simmonds.
“Was there any leftover fruit anywhere in the refrigerator?” Edwards said.
“That’s right,” said Simmonds.
The only fruit found were whole apples and bananas, the jury heard.
“All the boxes were emptied. No fruit scraps, pineapple or watermelon peels found?” Edwards said.
“That’s right,” said Simmonds.
Crabtree is also accused of attempting to kill his son in January of that year and dishonestly submitting a $125,000 insurance claim after his death.
He also pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and fraud charges when his trial began Tuesday.
Paramedics found his son dead in his bed at 9.55am.
The autopsy revealed that Jonathan’s death was caused by excessive amounts of oxycodone, used as a prescription painkiller, in his bloodstream.
Police found an empty vial of the liquid form of oxycodone in bushland just across the border fence behind Crabtrees’ home, Simmonds said.
The jury heard that Jonathan’s bedroom had a door that opened onto his backyard and the boundary fence beyond.
Police also found two more empty oxycodone bottles in the home, including in the master bathroom adjacent to Tara’s bedroom.
Marco asked Simmonds if the police were specifically looking for fruit peels, peels and seeds during the search.
“No,” said Simmonds.
Marco had previously told the jury he turned to murder because he found Crabtree’s situation with his son “no longer bearable” but he did not have the money to buy out his interest in the house.
In his opening statement, Edwards said Jonathan may have accidentally or deliberately overdosed himself while living in a home where people were taking a wide variety of drugs.
The trial is expected to last five weeks before Judge Martin Burns.
AAP
