A magistrate has questioned the time it is taking to prepare a brief of evidence for a mother facing manslaughter charges over the drowning of her two sons in Townsville.
Leeann Eatts, 48, is facing 14 charges, including two counts of manslaughter, over the drowning of her two young sons: three-year-old Jhulio Sariago, and five-year-old Barak Austral, in the Ross River in February 2019.
In previous court hearings, police have made allegations of parental neglect of the boys, who witnesses reported were often unsupervised.
More than a year later, police are still finalising a brief of evidence against Ms Eatts, who had since been released from custody on bail.
Prosecutors asked for an adjournment on the brief at the Townsville Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
They said it would take until mid-September to finalise and had been delayed because officers are analysing intercepted information and recordings.
Previously police had monitored Ms Eatts's home telephone calls.
Magistrate suggests fast-tracking
Magistrate Ross Mack questioned the delay and suggested the brief be "fast-tracked".
"It seems to be inconsistent with appropriate and/or prompt investigation that you need to wait 14 months to then decide that you want an intercept transcribed," he said.
The matter has been adjourned until Friday for police to provide further explanation on why an extension would be necessary.
"If there is good reason for it, so be it, otherwise it needs to be fast-tracked," Magistrate Mack said.
"We've seen the anniversary here that means the report has to be done and I'm the author of that report."
