Mason Lee’s mother intends to fight manslaughter charge, lawyer says
THERE was commotion outside court as it was revealed the mother of the Queensland toddler plans to fight her manslaughter charge.
THE mother of Queensland toddler Mason Lee intends to fight a manslaughter charge laid against her, according to her lawyer, who was targeted outside court by angry protesters demanding justice for the little boy.
The manslaughter case against Ann Maree Lee, Mason’s 27-year-old mother, was briefly heard in Caboolture Magistrates Court on Tuesday, two weeks after her arrest.
Outside, a small group bearing signs emblazoned with, “accountability for Mason” gathered, chanting loudly as Lee’s lawyer, Brendan Ryan, said his client should not have been charged with manslaughter.
“She’s presently trying to come to terms with the loss of her son,” ABC News reported Mr Ryan said outside court.
“She’s grieving after the loss of her child. The charge of manslaughter is the incorrect charge ... she’ll be fighting the charge of manslaughter.”
Lee, her 37-year-old partner William Andrew O’Sullivan and his housemate Ryan Hodson, 17, have all been charged with the manslaughter of the 21-month-old.
Mason was pronounced dead after paramedics were called to O’Sullivan’s Caboolture house in the early hours of June 11.
It is alleged the trio charged over Mason’s death quibbled over whose responsibility it was to take him to a doctor, with his mother being sent picture of her son lying in a pool of vomit at her partner’s house.
The manslaughter charges stem from their failure to seek medical help for him.
Hodson, 17, made a successful Supreme Court bail application last week, after earlier being denied bail by a magistrate.
In documents tendered to the court as part of his application, it emerged that child safety officers visited Lee’s house in the days leading up to his death.
When she told them Mason was at O’Sullivan’s home less than a kilometre away, they did not go to visit him there.
The toddler had allegedly been vomiting for five days prior to his death.
Detectives investigating his death said his body was covered in “head-to-toe” injuries.
His cause of death was inflammation from a ruptured small intestine.
Emotions ran high outside the court as scores of people gathered to call for action.
One woman said the toddler had “fallen through the cracks”.
Some clashed over claims of profiteering from T-shirts worn by those who turned out in support.
They chanted “accountability for Mason, we want justice”.
“We are all concerned — it’s not just Mason this is all in consideration of every Australian baby out there ... We will fight to the end,” supporter Jennifer Hansell said.
Hodson was released on bail last week, after saying he feared for his life in prison, in documents that were tendered.
“I am petrified about going to jail,” he said.
“I am informed and verily (sic) believe that there have been Facebook messages that people are waiting to assault me in jail”.
Police allege Hodson refused to call for help for Mason and when his girlfriend suggested he call a doctor as the toddler lay dying, he allegedly said “f**k your mouth up, it’s not our business, it’s not our problem”.
It’s believed Mason had been dead for many hours before the triple-0 call was made.
O’Sullivan and Lee remain in custody.
O’Sullivan’s case was also briefly mentioned in the Caboolture Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning.
Both Lee and O’Sullivan’s cases were adjourned for mention on September 28.