Charmaine McLeod inquest: Lawyer’s concerns crash death mum ‘overly protective of the children’

The lawyer for a mother who died along with her four children when their car collided with a truck was concerned about her growing protectiveness of the children “from the father and the paternal grandfather”.

The lawyer for a mother who died along with her four children when their car collided with a truck was concerned about her growing protectiveness of the children prior to the crash.

Solicitor Fiona Terrell gave evidence on Monday in Brisbane at the third week of the inquest into the deaths of Charmaine McLeod and her children Aaleyn, 6, Matilda, 5, Wyatt, 4, and Zaidok, 2, in May 2019 following the crash on the Bunya Highway near Kingaroy.

Ms Terrell was representing Ms McLeod in family court proceedings at the time.

She said the features of the case – mental health issues, child abuse and domestic violence allegations – were not unusual for family court proceedings.

Other than being anxious Ms Mcleod – who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder – did not present as someone suffering from mental health issues, she said.

Charmaine Harris McLeod with her four children, Aaleyn, Matilda, Wyatt and Zaidok.

“Certainly not in terms of being incoherent, unable to give clear instructions, being combative with me. She certainly wasn’t like that. I don’t have any recollections of her being an overly difficult client to deal with,” Ms Terrell said.

However the solicitor said she was growing concerned that Ms McLeod was “being overly protective of the children”.

“I didn’t have any concerns with regards to her mental health, only that she had a great deal of concern about protecting the children from the father and the paternal grandfather,” she said.

Barrister Rebekah Bassano, representing members of Ms McLeod’s family, questioned Ms Terrell over an email she sent to Ms McLeod in the hours before the collision.

The inquest heard Ms McLeod had left where she was staying and fled to another area with the children utilising a DV referral service.

In a response email Ms Terrell said “she runs a real risk of the children living with the father”, the inquest heard.

“Do you accept that email was heavy handed,” Ms Bassano asked.

“No,” Ms Terrell responded.

“Do you think that conversation ought to have been by video or telephone rather than an email?”

“At that time of night, no, I don’t believe that that would have been appropriate at all. Email communication is clear and less likely to be misunderstood would be my position in terms of giving advice.”

The inquest continues before Coroner Kerrie O’Callaghan.