‘We want justice’: Children of slain Moreton Bay mum speak out as brother remains behind bars

Loving Moreton Bay mother Margarette Smetheram was allegedly murdered by her eldest son in 2023 in an act that shocked the community. Ms Smetheram’s other children have spoken for the first time since their world was torn apart.

Margarette Smetheram with daughter Darwie.

For the son of Margarette Smetheram, learning of his mum’s death on social media was so surreal it was almost “like a movie” as he realised he recognised her house among all the posts on Facebook, and raced over there.

Rick Smetheram and his sisters Darwie and Lish have broken their silence just weeks after the second anniversary of their mum Margz’ tragic death.

Ms Smetheram was allegedly murdered by her eldest son Leonard “Leo” Smetheram on March 9, 2023, with her body found in the back yard of her Kallangur home.

Siblings Leo, Lish, Darwie and Rick.

Ms Smetheram’s neighbour raised the alarm with emergency services after they heard a disturbance.

Rick’s sisters Darwie and Lish said their mum’s death felt “surreal” with eight grandchildren robbed of their beloved “nanna”.

“It’s tough, I know my kids miss her … I’ve got an 11-month-old now too and obviously she’s not going to know mum, all she is going to know is photos,” Rick added.

Rick said he first learnt of his mother’s death after a friend came across a Facebook post.

“I was at work and a friend of mine saw all the posts (on social media) and said ‘Rick this is (your) mum’s house’,” he said. “I raced over there, I called … Darwie straight away and said ‘Something is happening at mum’s’ … It was surreal, it was like a movie.”

Margz Smetheram was allegedly murdered at her Kallangur home on March 9, 2023. Picture: supplied

Darwie said the entire house was “taped off” by the time she arrived.

“When I first got there, the (detective) took me over to the next-door neighbour’s house, and as soon as I walked in the house, (the neighbour) said ‘I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry’,” she said.

“I knew my brother was (at mum’s house) … I said ‘Is my brother dead? Is my mum dead?’ … she said ‘Your mum, she’s gone’.”

Darwie and Rick were taken to the local police station.

“(Police) kept asking about our family and our brother, they said ‘we believe your brother has brutally murdered your mum’,” Darwie said.

Darwie said she went to court every two weeks “just to get information”.

“I had to leave my job so I could go to court,” she said.

Moreton Bay District Inspector Ben Fadian previously said officers were faced with a “confronting” scene. He confirmed there was no domestic violence order in place, but police had attended the address on other matters.

A young Ms Smetheram, her husband Graham and their four children. Picture: supplied

“I don’t know if you can really move on from something like this but it’s hard to progress (in life) when you know the whole court process is still happening … we’ve been left in the dark,” Rick said.

“Mum didn’t just die of a heart attack, I already knew something was up … there was just blood everywhere.”

Lish added: “We know that she’s gone, we know that it was horrific, we have all these bits and pieces but none of it pieces together … it’s like you’re stuck in time and everything else is moving except (our mother’s case).”

Asked whether the siblings were estranged from Leo, Rick said: “We have always tried to keep him at arm’s length (but) we have always loved him because he’s our brother.”

Shortly after Ms Smetheram’s killing, Leo was taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital for assessment.

Ms Smetheram’s son Leonard “Leo” Smetheram remains behind bars. Picture: supplied

Duty lawyer Brendan Whelan previously said outside court that Leo had been taken to hospital on March 9, 2023, due to his level of intoxication.

Darwie said Leo had been “in and out of rehab” for several years.

Rick said their mum was the “glue of the family” while Lish described her as “cheeky”.

“We used to play football, she loved coming to our games and she was always the loudest on the sideline,” Rick said.

“When I think about mum now, all I can think about is what happened to her … all I can think about is the crime scene and (her) handprints … on the couch out the back (of the property).”

Darwie said the woman she affectionately called “mother duck” was a “mum to all”.

“People used to stay with us for months on end, some of the boys that we grew up with, had rough lives … mum would always open the door and say ‘if you’ve got nowhere to stay, you can stay here’,” Rick added. “I just don’t want mum to be forgotten … we want justice.”

Ms Smetheram adored her eight grandchildren. Picture: supplied

Ms Smetheram’s cause of death was determined to be blunt force injuries to the head and heart failure.

“I want to know what happened on the day, I want to know how she died, I want to know every injury she had,” Rick said.

Darwie claimed they were advised not to look at their mother’s “unrecognisable” body.

The matter will next be heard before Pine Rivers Magistrates Court on March 31. Leo, 38, remains behind bars at Wacol’s Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre.

Originally published as ‘We want justice’: Children of slain Moreton Bay mum speak out as brother remains behind bars