Tara Maree Richardson charged with murdering son Tarrin-Macen Kenneth O’Sullivan

The father of a four-year-old whose naked body was found in a pool, leading to the years-later arrest of the boy’s mother, has vented his frustration amid further delays to the court case.

A woman has been taken into police custody in relation to the death of four year-old boy, Tarrin-Macen Kenneth O’Sullivan, who was found face down in the backyard pool in near Sarina in 2021.

The father of an allegedly slain four-year-old has voiced his frustration over the case “dragging out” after it was revealed important medical evidence would not be available until at least December, causing further delays.

Andrew O’Sullivan sat at the back of Mackay Magistrates Court anxious for news on the murder case against the boy’s mother.

On August 29, 2021 Tarrin-Macen Kenneth O’Sullivan, 4, was pulled naked from the pool at a Munbura home in the late afternoon.

And almost 2.5 years later his mother Tara Maree Richardson, 46, – Mr O’Sullivans former partner – was charged with murder and interfering with a corpse.

Police allege the little boy was dead before he entered the water and that Ms Richardson phoned triple-0 claiming her son had drowned.

Tara Richardson, 46, has been charged with the murder of her four-year-old son Tarrin-Macen Kenneth O'Sullivan after he was found face down in a pool near Sarina in August 2021.

It is further alleged Ms Richardson was the only one home at the time of Tarrin-Macen’s death.

A GoFundMe fundraiser was set up on behalf of the little boy’s family the day after he was pulled from the pool – it raised $1830 to help the family cover expenses.

Following a protracted and complex investigation, detectives went to Ms Richardson’s South Mackay home just after 6am on December 8 and took her into custody where she has remained on remand.

“As the child’s father, this is dragging out and out. It’s just frustrating,” Mr O’Sullivan expressed to Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan when the case was mentioned on Wednesday.

Tarrin-Macen Kenneth O’Sullivan with his father Andrew O’Sullivan (left) and his mother, and accused killer, Tara Richardson (right). Picture: Contributed

He had just learned Ms Richardson’s case would be delayed until January as an outstanding pathologist’s report would not be available until December 20.

Ms Hartigan said she could understand Mr O’Sullivan’s frustration before explaining a little about the process involved.

“The court and solicitors don’t have any control over the testing of whatever’s been sent away and obviously it’s a very important part of whatever’s happened here,” Ms Hartigan said, adding the was not an uncommon part of the ongoing process.

“Other people face this too with other sorts of charges … where things need to be tested.

“We have no control over how long that takes. We can push it and push it by putting on mentions.

The four-year-old was pulled naked from the pool at a Munbura home in the late afternoon

“But there’s lots of things that have to be tested and it just goes in order of receipt.

“One of the awful things about court proceedings is that they drag on for a really long time especially when there are things that need to be tested.

“The good news is it goes much quicker when it gets to the court where it needs to go to, for example supreme court”

Mr O’Sullivan thanked Ms Hartigan for her explanation.

Ms Richardson did not appear in court and Mackay Legal Aid Queensland solicitor Rosie Varley appeared on behalf of the Brisbane office.

Her appearance was also excused at the next mention.