Leeanne Eatts given sentence date in Townsville District Court after prison shutdown, report delays

The mother who was found guilty of manslaughter of her two sons who drowned in a Townsville river has had her sentence date delayed as a psychological report awaits.

Leeanne Eatts outside the Townsville Courthouse. Picture: Shae Beplate.

The sentence date for a mother who was found guilty of manslaughter of her two young sons who drowned in a river has been pencilled in, after delays involving prison shut downs and an incomplete psychological report.

Leeanne Chrysilla Eatts was found guilty during a Townsville Supreme Court trial of the manslaughter of her two sons Barak Brian Austral, 5 (known as Junior) and Jhulio Maximus Arturo Sariago, 3, who both drowned in flooded waters in the Ross River on February 25, 2019.

On February 5 this year in Townsville District Court the matter was mentioned before Justice David North, where Eatts’ defence barrister Harvey Walters said they were still waiting for the psychological report of the 51-year-old woman to be completed.

Leeanne Chrysilla Eatts, Barak Brian Austral, 5 (known as Junior) and Jhulio Maximus Arturo Sariago 3.

The court was told there was an “interruption” with the prison shutting down during the recent Cyclone Kirrily which delayed the report’s completion.

Justice North factored in time for the report to be completed as well as other trial dates which were set to take place between now and Eatts’ proposed sentence date.

He adjourned the matter to June 13 in Townsville District Court for a lengthy sentence.

It was reported in October last year, the woman was still in the watch house despite being found guilty in September due to unavailable prison cells.

Mr Walters had told the court she had been “very unwell”.

Originally published as Leeanne Eatts given sentence date in Townsville District Court after prison shutdown, report delays