Charmaine McLeod inquest: What was written on note finally revealed

The final days of a mother and her explosive last words before she and her four children were killed in a horror head-on crash have been revealed at an inquest.

A police officer investigating the deaths of Charmaine McLeod and her four children formed the view the crash that claimed their lives occurred “in retaliation” to orders made by the family court, an inquest has heard.

Detective Senior Constable Lisa O’Leary said a handwritten note found in Ms McLeod’s handbag after the crash which included the words “blame the courts, not enough help for domestic violence victims and kids” played a role in her forming that conclusion.

Wyatt, Ally, Zaidok and Matilda

Sen Const. O’Leary investigated the circumstances surrounding the May 27, 2019 crash that claimed the lives of Ms McLeod and her four children Aaleyn, 6, Matilda, 5, Wyatt, 4, and Zaidok, 2.

On Friday, she gave evidence in the Brisbane Coroners Court about an eight-page handwritten note discovered in Ms McLeod’s pink handbag found amid the wreckage after the family’s SUV collided head-on with a semi-trailer near Kingaroy.

Further details about the family’s last day were also revealed, including that Ms McLeod had communicated with her lawyers and with a man she had met on a dating app in the hours before the collision.

The court heard after checking out of a Gympie motel room provided by a domestic violence support service just after 11am, the family went to a refuge.

Throughout the day, Ms McLeod had communications with her lawyer, and in the hour before the crash she was messaging a man she had met on a dating app.

The court heard a truck driver had provided a statement that on the night of the crash at about 7.30pm, Ms McLeod had overtaken him in her Nissan X-Trail and safely pulled back into her lane.

He estimated she was a few hundred metres ahead of him when she collided head-on with another semi-trailer and that he couldn’t tell which side of the road the crash occurred.

The wreckage of the car driven by Charmaine McLeod. The crash killed her and her four children.

Counsel assisting the coroner Kylie Hillard said the driver involved in the collision gave evidence “he had no time to react or brake and the car just collided with the front of his truck”.

A photo of the pages of Ms McLeod’s note found at the scene were shown to the inquest with the contents and writing becoming “more disjointed and a little less continuous” towards the end.

In it, she referenced custody issues, a women’s refuge, spoke about not being happy, complained about the justice system and made allegations of domestic violence, rape and sexual abuse.

Charmaine and James McLeod with their daughter Aaleyn was born. Picture: Alistair Brightman / Fraser Coast Chronicle

The inquiry heard one sentence read: “I finally have the courage to stand and report my abusive husband”.

Under questioning from barrister Rebekah Bassano, who is representing Ms McLeod’s family, the officer was asked about her report’s “ultimate conclusion” that the fatal crash “was in retaliation to the family courts”.

“Do you accept that at the time and on the evidence you’ve got that the mother felt hopeless?,” Ms Bassano asked the Sen Const. O’Leary who disagreed.

Ms Bassano asked if the officer was aware of plans Ms McLeod had made, including her intention to enrol the children at a new school the following week and an engagement to see a friend when one of the children went to a hospital appointment.

Sen Const. O’Leary said she was aware of the hospital appointment but not the plans to meet a friend or enrol the kids in school.

Barrister Emily Cooper, who is representing the Commissioner of Police, asked Sen Const. O’Leary about the report she prepared for the coroner.

“ … you’ve made reference there to interpretation of information provided by the family law court as the causation for the traffic accident among other things,” she asked.

Sen Const. O’Leary agreed.

“For the sake of clarity page seven … (of Ms McLeod’s note) … it says, does it not “blame the courts, not enough help for domestic violence victims and kids”.

“Did that play a major role in your conclusion in your report as I’ve just read out?”

Sen Const. O’Leary agreed it had.

The inquest continues.