Note addressed to alleged killer mum Maree Crabtree found in son’s bin
A crumpled note found at the bottom of Jonathan Crabtree’s trash can turned up as evidence in the final days of his mother’s murder trial.
Maree Mavis Crabtree is charged with murder, attempted murder and attempted fraud in the July 19, 2017 death of Jonathan Crabtree.
A Gold Coast mother allegedly fatally poisoned her son using a juice laced with prescription drugs, including oxycodone.
He is later accused of trying to collect the pension payment despite knowing he was not entitled to make a claim.
He denied all charges.
Jonathan was found dead lying on his side on his cot with his feet still on the floor.
The trial is now in its fourth week before the Brisbane Supreme Court and is nearing the end of the prosecution case.
On Tuesday, the jury saw evidence of a note left in the trash can next to Jonathan’s bed, which detectives found when searching his room.
The note, spoken aloud to the court, read: “Hey mum, my Brian (sic) keeps telling me to do this. I want you to have your share Maree…”
Other parts of the note were unclear, the court was told.
Retired Detective Sergeant Stephen Taylor said the note was the “last” item in the bin, which was underneath rotting orange scraps, various receipts from months ago and a McDonald’s food wrapper from Jonathan’s last known meal.
“(It) was at the bottom of the bin and crumpled up… stuck to the oranges,” Mr Taylor said.
Mr. Taylor said court investigators evaluated the note thoroughly; However, it became clear that what first attracted their attention to the bin was the food packaging.
“We were looking at all the ships that someone might have swallowed,” he said.
The jury, which resumed the trial on Friday, was presented with a list of agreed arguments between the defense and prosecution, including a handwriting expert on the note.
The expert opined that the note written by Jonathan Crabtree was “qualified support” and added that there were limitations to his analysis.
In his evidence on Tuesday, Mr Taylor also told the court the last known activity on Jonathan’s devices was at 2.44pm on July 18, the day before he was found dead.
In cross-examination, Mr Taylor said various medical equipment, including hypodermic needles, a blood vial, a sharps box and clear plastic syringes, were found near Jonathan’s bed.
In agreed pleas on Friday, the jury was told that the DNA profile of the blood matched Jonathan Crabtree; However, it could not be determined when the blood was taken, when it was placed on the bedside table, and in what condition it was stored.
The court was told the blood was tested and found to contain a mixture of prescription drugs, including 0.03 mg/kg of oxycodone and 0.02 mg/kg of noroxycodone.
At the end of Mr Taylor’s evidence the Crown closed the case against Ms Crabtree.
Ms Crabtree’s barrister, Angus Edwards KC, said the Gold Coast mother would not give or call evidence in response.
Both sides will make their closing statements before Judge Martin Burns and the jury on Tuesday next week.
