Lee-Ann Rae Forrest and Alex William Forrest murder trial date set

A Qld mother and son accused of killing their family member in an alleged suicide pact now have a trial date — but the surviving son is willing to cop to a lesser charge.

Police at the Blaxland Court, Glen Eden home of Lee-Ann Rae Forrest (inset).

A trial date has been set for a mother and son accused of murdering a Queensland man in an alleged murder-suicide pact after their murder charge reached the Supreme Court today.

Lee-ann Rae Forrest, 53, and Alex William Forrest, 24, both had their murder charges presented to the Supreme Court in Rockhampton this morning.

They are accused of murdering their son and brother Cameron Paul Forrest, 24, at a Central Queensland home on the Easter long weekend in 2022.

Police sat 18 Blaxland Court, Glen Eden, Gladstone in April 2022 after Easter.

Alex’s defence barrister Jordan Ahlstrand told the Supreme Court today that his client would be pleading not guilty to the murder charge.

He said a submission would be made to Crown prosecution, seeking to resolve the matter with a plea of guilty to manslaughter.

“That is going to be a voluminous submission because the evidence is large,” Mr Ahlstrand said.

“There’s also transcripts in the Mental Health Court that are pertinent to my submission.”

An affidavit prepared by police in Alex’s proceedings outlined the allegations and why police would object to bail if he were to make an application.

Police located Cameron deceased, on April 17, 2022, lying on a bed in the rear bedroom of the family residence in Blaxland Court, Glen Eden.

According to the court documents he had “significant lacerations to both wrists, his throat and multiple stab-like wounds to his chest”.

Police allege Alex was found inside and he had difficulty breathing along with significant lacerations to both of his wrists and that officers found a bloodstained hunting knife in the kitchen sink.

Both Alex and Ms Forrest were transported to Gladstone Hospital.

Gladstone woman Lee-Ann Rae Forrest, 50.

Police allege that during an interview with investigators, Alex claimed his mother had gathered him and his brother in his brother’s room on April 16 and they all spoke about their lack of a future due to financial difficulties and the likelihood of World War 3, and she convinced them they should all kill themselves.

He allegedly claimed their mum mixed up paracetamol and gave what she thought would be an overdose to Cameron, however, it just made him feel ill.

According to the court documents Alex allegedly told police he and his mother then spent the next 24 hours harming themselves but failed to end their own lives.

Ms Forrest’s lawyer Sean Gibbs advised barrister Jacob Robson was briefed and a further conference was required with Ms Forrest.

Justice Graeme Crow set a trial date starting December 1 for the case and both Mr Forrest and Ms Forrest charges will next be mentioned on August 4.

Both are remanded in custody.