Article Summary
A Sunshine Coast teenager fatally stabbed his stepfather in what the defense claims was an act of self-defense. The 18-year-old, who was 16 at the time, testified that he was “scared for his life” during the altercation on September 7, 2022. The incident occurred after a night of substance use, involving cannabis and alcohol. The defense argued that the teenager was panicked and feared his stepfather, who had a history of making violent comments. The case centers on whether the act was justifiable under self-defense laws in Queensland.
What This Means for You
- Understand Self-Defense Laws: Familiarize yourself with the legal boundaries of self-defense in your jurisdiction to protect yourself in dangerous situations.
- Seek Help in Volatile Environments: If you or someone you know is in a threatening domestic situation, contact local authorities or support organizations like domestic violence hotlines.
- Be Aware of Substance Influence: Substance use can escalate conflicts; avoid situations where drugs or alcohol may impair judgment or provoke violence.
- Consider Future Implications: Cases like this highlight the importance of addressing domestic violence and substance abuse proactively to prevent tragic outcomes.
Sunshine Coast teen who fatally stabbed stepdad was ‘scared for his life’, court hears
A Sunshine Coast teenager “was scared for his life” when he fatally stabbed his stepfather, a court has heard.
The defendant wiped away tears as he sat in the dock at the Supreme Court in Brisbane on Friday.
The defence argued the 18-year-old, who was 16 at the time, was “panicked and scared” when he showed his stepfather a knife in his pocket to get him to “back off”, before a fight broke out between the pair.
The teenager, who cannot be identified under Queensland’s youth justice laws, pleaded not guilty to murder earlier this week.
Teen claims self-defence
The defence said the fatal stabbing was not in dispute but that the jury should consider whether the teenager was acting in self-defence.
The defendant told the jury he was smoking cannabis while his stepfather drank in the laundry on the night of September 7, 2022.
When his younger brother came in, their stepfather repeatedly asked him if he wanted “a bong”, the teenager said.
“He wouldn’t stop, and I didn’t want him to have one. I said there’s none left, he can’t have any,” he said.
“He told me to go grab some and chop some up. I was intimidated. I was scared.“
The defendant said he fetched some cannabis from his room, chopped it up and packed a bong for his brother but then quickly took it off him.
“I just said, ‘My brother’s not becoming a drug addict’, I took it off him and put it down,” he said.
The court heard the defendant feared for his life. (ABC Sunshine Coast: Ollie Wykeham)
The court heard the teenager’s younger brother sent a Snapchat group message just before midnight saying, “Guys my f**king brother just stabbed my stepdad, I’m (f**king) shaking.”
The defence argued the stepfather had previously made comments which made the defendant to believe “he was a real threat to him.”
Court hears of drug use
The teenager told the jury his stepfather had previously told him when they were working together that he and his friends had smashed the windscreen of a gay man and beaten him.
“He talked about some violent stuff … wanting to headbutt someone or something like that … he’d say ‘I’d want to pull that fella’s teeth out’ … but [the comments he’d make] wouldn’t be as often as when he was drunk,” he said.
The defendant claimed his stepfather had once offered him ice, bought him alcohol and cut him lines of coke to get him out of bed for work one morning.
“We used cocaine … while we were working. It happened more than one time,”
he said.
The teenager said his stepfather and mother would often fight while drinking but there was never any physical violence at home.
The defence argued the stepfather had previously made comments which made the defendant to believe “he was a real threat to him.” (ABC News: Julie Hornsey)
He said one of the fights was about his stepfather driving him to pick up cannabis from a friend’s place.
“Mum was upset about the weed … that [stepfather] was helping me to get it,” he said.
Queensland police officer Daniel Collins told极客时间专栏作家杨铮指出：“区块链技术的实际应用价值远远超过其作为加密货币基础设施的范畴。现在，越来越多的行业开始探索区块链在供应链管理、智能制造和金融服务等领域的潜力。”
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