Hospital hearing for Brisbane man accused of murdering his mother
A Queensland man accused of murdering his mother has made his first court appearance via a bedside hearing in Brisbane’s Prince Charles Hospital.
Leonard Smetheram and his alleged victim, mother Margarette. (Image: ABC)
Leonard James Llewellyn Smetheram, 36, was charged on Friday with the murder of his mother, 56-year-old Margarette Smetheram.
Her body was found at a home at Kallangur, north of Brisbane, on Thursday.
Smetheram, also from Kallangur, was due to appear before Pine Rivers Magistrates Court on Friday, but the police prosecutor told the court he could not be released from Princess Alexandra Hospital for up to 48 hours, later clarified to be Prince Charles Hospital.
Acting Magistrate Ross Woodford ordered a bedside hearing on Friday, rather than adjourn until Monday, and arranged to travel to the hospital so he could preside over the matter.
Smetheram’s solicitor Brendan Whelan said outside the Pine Rivers court he would seek a six-week adjournment to request a brief of evidence.
“I haven’t spoken to (Smetheram) at all. There’s just the bedside hearing. We’ll get an adjournment and proceed from there,” he said.
Mr Whelan said he would find out why his client was in hospital when he got a chance to speak with him.
As a result of the bedside hearing, the matter was adjourned until May 11.
All defendants charged with murder must appear before the Supreme Court in order to seek bail.
