Murder accused Tara Maree Richardson on remand over death of Tarrin-Macen Kenneth O’Sullivan

A delayed expert report has pushed out a murder case against a mum who allegedly called triple-0 claiming her four year old boy had drowned. 

Mackay police declared a crime scene at a Munbura regarding the alleged murder of four-year-old Tarrin-Macen O'Sullivan.

The case against a mother accused of murdering her four-year-old son have hit a further snag as an expert report remains outstanding.

On Sunday, January 5 2025, little Tarrin-Macen Kenneth O’Sullivan would have celebrated his eighth birthday – instead in 2021 he was buried in a tiny coffin surrounded my grieving loved ones, who now want answers.

At just four years old, Tarrin-Macen was pulled naked from the pool at a Munbura home in the late afternoon on August 29, 2021.

Then almost 2.5 years later his mother Tara Maree Richardson, 46, was charged with murder and interfering with a corpse.

Tarrin-Macen Kenneth O'Sullivan died in Mackay Base Hospital after he was pulled unresponsive from a pool at a Munruba property on Sunday, August 29, 2021. Picture: Contributed

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

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

Following a protracted and complex investigation, detectives went to Ms Richardson’s South Mackay home just after 6am on December 8 2023 and took her into custody where she has remained on remand.

Tara Richardson, 46, has been charged with the murder of her four-year-old son.

The case against Ms Richardson had been adjourned in late November 2024 because an outstanding pathologist’s report would not be available until December 20. This is since been disclosed.

Mackay Magistrates Court on Wednesday heard lawyers for Ms Richardson had sought their own expert report, which had not yet been provided.

As a result the matter was adjourned until a later date.

Ms Richardson did not appear in court and McKay’s Solicitor lawyer Rob Beamish acting as duty lawyer appeared as town agent for the Brisbane Legal Aid Queensland office.

Her appearance was also excused at the next mention.

Originally published as Murder accused Tara Maree Richardson on remand over death of Tarrin-Macen Kenneth O’Sullivan