Devastating verdict on Queensland mum Charmaine McLeod who killed her four young kids in fiery crash

A mother of four “deliberately” ended her own life and those of her children by driving headfirst into an oncoming truck, a coroner has found.

Charmaine McLeod, 35, died along with her children Aaleyn, 6, Matilda, 5, Wyatt, 4, and Zaidok, 2, in a fiery crash on Queensland’s Bunya Highway, near Kingaroy, on May 27, 2019.

Last year, a lengthy inquest was opened in Brisbane into Ms McLeod’s complex mental health issues, including borderline personality disorder and schizophrenia.

An investigation was also launched into her repeated, unsubstantiated claims of domestic and family violence and sexual abuse to authorities in the months leading up to her death.

On Wednesday, coroner Kerrie O’Callaghan concluded that the deaths of Mrs McLeod and her four children could not have been prevented even if authorities had taken a different approach to the issues she raised.

Paul Harris, Ms McLeod’s father, on Wednesday called the findings a “waste of time”.

“Waste of time, waste of money, waste of peace,” he said outside the court in Brisbane.

At the time of her death, the Hervey Bay mother believed she would lose custody of her children to her ex-husband, a fact she had known after an email exchange with her lawyers on the day of the crash.

James McLeod was married to Charmaine for nine years and is the biological father of Aaleyn, Matilda, Wyatt and Zaidok.

Ms Gallagher said in her findings that the exchange triggered a “dramatic response” consistent with her untreated mental illness, namely “killing herself and her children”.

“I cannot determine whether this was solely an act of revenge against Mr McLeod or whether it arose from a genuine fear for her own safety and that of her children,” Ms Gallagher said.

‘However, it is difficult to conclude that Mrs. McLeod was acting “protectively” when she killed her children.’

The accident happened at approximately 7.30pm on May 27, 2019, after Ms McLeod overtook a semi-trailer and then ‘suddenly’ collided with another semi-trailer coming from the opposite direction.

Aaleyn was thrown 20 meters away from the car, which was on fire.

After the crash, a handwritten note was found in Mrs McLeod’s bag among the rubble, the investigation reported.

In it, Ms McLeod said: ‘I’m sorry. Yes, intentionally.’

She also said she could “no longer deal with the custody issue,” alleged she had been raped and abused and that two of her children had been “attacked,” and attacked her lawyers and the family court system.

“How much more? Far out. This is what drives someone to the brink of murder-suicide,” the note added.

It ended with “Blame the Judge” and “Not Enough Help for Domestic Violence Victims and Children.”

During the inquest, the court was told that Mrs McLeod accused Mr McLeod of sexually abusing her and two of their children and that he had been violent towards her.

After further investigation, police determined the allegations were “unfounded.”

Mr McLeod denies the allegations and has never been accused of any wrongdoing. He declined to comment on Wednesday.

Ms O’Callaghan made no adverse findings about any of the individuals or bodies involved with Ms McLeod, her mental health or her children.

This included the police investigation into Ms McLeod’s complaints, which Ms O’Callaghan said was ‘adequate and appropriate’.

“Mrs McLeod’s condition was very complex and no one could have predicted that she would commit suicide or kill her children,” she said.

‘In retrospect, it will become apparent that in some areas things could have been handled differently, or with a different focus.

‘Ultimately, I conclude that even with a different approach… the deaths of Mrs. McLeod and her children could not have been prevented.

‘The murder and infanticide were virtually impossible for the authorities to discover.’

In her findings, Ms O’Callaghan recommended that the Queensland Law Society provide lawyers with a specialist mental health advice service.

She said it would help them seek advice to help ‘vulnerable clients and clients with complex, traumatic and/or DFV needs’.

She also recommended providing lawyers with “professional development opportunities.”

“I extend my gratitude to the families of Mr McLeod and Mrs McLeod. I extend my deepest sympathy to them and their unimaginable loss,” said Mrs O’Callaghan.