A Townsville mother has been found not guilty of the manslaughter of her two sons by a Supreme Court jury. Leeanne Chrysilla Eatts, 54, had pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of Barak Austral, 5, and Jhulio Sariago, 3, who drowned in the Ross River in February 2019.
During a five-day trial in the Supreme Court in Townsville, Crown Prosecutor David Nardone argued that Eatts neglected her duty of care by failing to supervise the boys and prevent them from harm. He said she was unaware of their whereabouts for one hour and 19 minutes on the day they drowned near their family home.
Defence barrister Claire Grant KC argued the drownings were a tragedy, not a crime, and that Eatts had been punished enough with the loss of her sons. The jury retired to consider its verdict on Monday about midday and returned with a decision at 1:45pm.
Justice Christopher Johnstone KC summarised the case for the jury and implored jurors to consider whether the Crown had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. Throughout the trial, the jury heard from witnesses including neighbours and people exercising or working in the area on the day of the drowning, who reported seeing the boys playing near the Ross River.
The boys' disappearance on February 25, 2019 sparked an Amber Alert and a search involving police, neighbours and the community. Police discovered their bodies by flashlight early the following morning.
