A woman allegedly murdered her terminally ill partner shortly after he delayed making a decision on legal assisted dying at a palliative care meeting, a judge has heard.

In a troubling case that raises ethical questions surrounding assisted dying, Kylie Ellina Truswell-Mobbs was arrested on April 3, more than a year after the death of her partner, David Ronald Mobbs, at their home in Alexandra Hills in December 2023. During a recent bail application in the Queensland Supreme Court, Judge Glenn Martin was informed that Mobbs was suffering from motor neurone disease, a debilitating condition that severely limits a person’s ability to perform basic functions like walking and speaking. Prosecutor Sarah Dennis asserted that Truswell-Mobbs attempted to administer a lethal combination of drugs via Mobbs' feeding tube three times, taking matters into her own hands after a palliative care meeting where Mobbs expressed a desire to delay making any decision about his end-of-life options. This case not only highlights the complexities of legal assisted dying but also puts a spotlight on the emotional turmoil faced by families dealing with terminal illnesses. Legal experts may debate whether Truswell-Mobbs' actions constitute compassion or a criminal act. Such cases are becoming increasingly relevant as more jurisdictions consider the legality of assisted dying and the rights of individuals in extreme suffering.