The neighbours of the mother accused of murdering her eight-year-old son claim they ‘heard a child screaming’ on the day he died, a court has heard.
Joanne Finch, 42, has been in custody since March after Brodie Moran’s body was found at a Tootgarook house on the Mornington Peninsula following a call to Ambulance Victoria.
While she appeared over video link on Friday, Melbourne Magistrate Donna Bakos told the court that one of the neighbours claimed to have ‘heard a young child that was screaming’.
Finch,41, (left) also originally from the United Kingdom, is pictured here with Brodie and her his father Lee
Brodie Moran (pictured with father Lee) was allegedly suffocated with a pillow by his mother Joanne Finch, at their seaside home in Tootgarook, southeast Melbourne, on March 8
Her lawyer Brendan Wilkinson also told the court she was suffering a ‘severe major depressive disorder’ at the time of the alleged killing.
Mr Wilkinson applied to cross-examine witnesses during a possible upcoming committal hearing to determine if Finch should stand trial.
However, he cited a psychiatric report detailing Finch’s severe major depressive disorder at the time of the alleged murder, meaning a committal hearing might not go ahead.
Finch could avoid a committal hearing or a trial if it can be proved she suffered a mental impairment.
Mr Wilkinson said if a committal hearing did go ahead, witnesses could confirm ‘this is a woman who had major issues’.
‘I would like to have them in the witness box and explore these issues,’ he said.
Finch (pictured) was arrested at the scene when officers arrived and found Brodie’s body
But magistrate Donna Bakos said witnesses would only confirm the depressive episode had occurred months earlier.
She also said she didn’t see the need for cross-examination at this stage.
‘Most of the witnesses say she’s never displayed anything inappropriate towards her son, she’s a loving mother,’ Ms Bakos said.
‘They’re not going to change their view.
‘They’re just going to say she’s never displayed anything untoward towards her son.’
Following his death, Brodie’s father – who now lives in Shanghai – expressed his shock and grief
‘These matters are extremely distressing. If there’s no need to have these witnesses at court … I don’t see that need right now.’
Following his death, Brodie’s father – who now lives in Shanghai – expressed his shock and grief, describing his son as a ‘very loved, kind, considerate and caring boy’.
Lee Moran said he and Joanne separated in July 2015, and that he’d never felt his son was in danger.
Tootgarook is a seaside town about 80 kilometres south of Melbourne with a population of almost 3000.
Finch was remanded in custody for a further committal mention on October 2.
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