Maree Crabtree charged with murdering her two adult children

A Gold Coast mother charged with murdering her two adult children is hoping to have two separate trials for the alleged killings, a court has been told.

Maree Mavis Crabtree, 57, of Maudsland, is accused of murdering her 18-year-old daughter Erin in 2012 and her 26-year-old son Jonathan in 2017.

The Crown prosecution case against Crabtree will allege in court that she gave Erin a fatal overdose of drugs before leaving her to go on a cruise with Jonathan in 2012.

Jonathan also died from a fatal overdose of drugs in 2017.

Initially, both deaths were ruled as suicides before Crabtree was later charged with murder.

It will also be alleged that Crabtree heavily medicated her children to keep them both bedridden and claim disability payments on their behalf.

She also allegedly claimed insurance after their deaths.

Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Philip McCarthy KC told Brisbane Supreme Court on Friday the case against Crabtree was “a little complicated” because of the varying evidence related to both deaths.

McCarthy said the court could still proceed with both murder charges being heard together because the evidence was “cross-admissible.”

Crabtree’s defense barrister Angus Edwards told the court that he intended to make an application to “sever off” the murder charge related to Erin’s death from the rest of the charges before the court.

Justice Davis ordered the Crown to prepare its arguments against why the application should be rejected.

The matter was adjourned for further review on October 18.

Crabtree is also charged with one count of attempted murder, one of torture, two of fraud, and four of attempted fraud.

The charge of torture relates to allegations Crabtree plied another woman with prescription medication for years in the same manner as her children.

Crabtree will stand trial in January.