4 days ago
Three men on trial for double toolbox murder south of Brisbane
Two men accused of drowning two people in a toolbox had no intention to kill and thought they were taking part in a 'boot ride', a court has heard.
Stou Daniels, Davy Malu Junior Taiao and Trent Michael Thrupp are charged with murdering Cory Breton and Iuliana Triscaru south of Brisbane in January 2016.
Their bodies were found inside a large toolbox dumped in Scrubby Creek after last being seen at a Kingston unit on January 4.
Mr Daniels, Mr Taiao and Mr Thrupp have all pleaded not guilty to murder in a trial before the Queensland Supreme Court.
Prosecutor Nathan Crane has said friends Breton, 28, and Triscaru, 31, were allegedly lured to the Kingston unit and tortured before being forced into the toolbox.
The Crown alleges they were still alive when the box was thrown into the creek, AAP reports.
On Tuesday, Mr Daniels' barrister John Fraser told the jury his client believed he was taking part in a 'boot ride' – a common event in the world of drug users and dealers.
'It is where someone is put in the boot of a vehicle and given a scare and then let go,' he said.
'This had all the hallmarks of a boot ride.'
His client left the scene before the victims were taken away in a Toyota HiLux, Mr Fraser said.
Lars Falcongreen, representing Mr Taiao, said the 'battleground' would be whether his client had any knowledge of a plan to kill when they were put into the toolbox.
Mr Falcongreen said there was a 'plan to scare the hell out of' Breton and Triscaru.
The jury has been told Mr Thrupp was present when the toolbox was dumped into the water.
His barrister Jessica Goldie told the jury 'what happened at Scrubby Creek is really not clear'.
'There is no definitive cause of death,' she said.
Ms Goldie said witnesses due to give evidence against her client had received 'significant benefits' for their co-operation, and urged the jury to ask 'are they reliable?'.
The trial continues.
