A man known only as "Chaos" who repeatedly robbed people sparked a group street brawl that turned deadly, a jury has heard.
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
Jye Sebastian Webb-Italia, 22, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday in the Brisbane Supreme court to the murder of Raymond Harris at Surfers Paradise on September 23, 2020.
Webb-Italia pleaded guilty to the alternative charge of manslaughter that the prosecution did not accept and the matter proceeded to trial with his three co-accused.
The 27-year-old father died from Webb-Italia stabbing him in the stomach when two groups of men clashed outside a pub about 9pm.
Webb-Italia's brother Kyle Jack Webb, as well as Jarod James Miller, pleaded not guilty to murder by aiding to kill Mr Harris.
Zaynn Stevannes Bekker pleaded not guilty to being an accessory after the fact to murder and not guilty to an alternative charge of accessory to manslaughter.
Crown prosecutor Elizabeth Kelso told the jury that Mr Harris was "particularly aggrieved" that Chaos was robbing people he and his three friends knew.
The four men sat in a bar that night and discussed how a person they suspected to be Chaos was linked to Webb-Italia's group.
Mr Harris used Facebook to send a message to Webb saying "who is this Chaos dog ripping off my mates?".
Ms Kelso said there was already "no love lost" between Webb and one of Mr Harris's friends and the men exchanged heated text messages that night.
The men continued their argument via phone after Mr Harris's group moved to a pub.
"Raymond Harris was being aggro, yelling and swearing and during that conversation told Mr Webb where the group was," Ms Kelso said.
Webb was in a nearby apartment and rounded up Webb-Italia, Miller and Bekker to join him in walking to the pub and confronting Mr Harris's group.
Ms Kelso said Webb's group charged towards Mr Harris, who was standing outside the pub smoking and checking his phone.
"Webb-Italia, armed with a large black knife, plunges it into Mr Harris's stomach," Ms Kelso said.
Mr Harris later died from the 18-centimetre blade injuring his liver.
Defence barrister John Kimmins said Webb-Italia had admitted manslaughter as the knife was in his hand when it was used to inflict a fatal stab wound.
"Has the prosecution established beyond a reasonable doubt that he then and there intended to kill or cause grievous bodily harm?" Mr Kimmins said.
He said Webb-Italia had told police during an interview that he never intended to kill anyone.
Barrister Simon Lewis said a guilty verdict against Webb would require proof he knew at the time that an unlawful killing would take place.
Barrister Andrew Hoare said Miller was distant when the knife was used and a careful examination of the evidence would find him not guilty.
Barrister John Fraser said the prosecution would have to show Dekker had specific knowledge that a murder or manslaughter had taken place for him to be an accessory.
Australian Associated Press
