During a court trial in Queensland, disturbing details emerged regarding the alleged murders of Cory Breton, 28, and Iuliana Triscaru, 31, in January 2016. Stou Daniels, Davy Malu Junior Taiao, and Trent Michael Thrupp are facing charges for their deaths in Kingston, located south of Brisbane.
Testimony from Lelan Harrington, a former flatmate of the accused, revealed chilling comments made by Thrupp. He recounted that Thrupp confessed to him about shooting Breton and Triscaru after they begged for their lives. Harrington claimed that Thrupp described how he opened the toolbox where the victims were allegedly held, saying they pleaded for mercy before he fatally shot them in the head. Furthermore, Thrupp reportedly took measures to ensure the toolbox sank to the bottom of Scrubby Creek by adding holes, tyres, and concrete blocks for additional weight.
The prosecution, led by Crown prosecutor Nathan Crane, indicated that forensic evidence is expected to suggest that both victims likely drowned, although their remains were too decomposed to confirm a cause of death. Two weeks after their disappearance, their bodies were discovered in the submerged toolbox.
The court also heard allegations that Davy Malu Junior Taiao and Stou Daniels participated in the brutal capture of Breton and Triscaru. It was asserted that the victims were tied up and tortured prior to being placed in the toolbox, with Harrington noting that the defendants believed Breton might have informed the police about their drug activities, which prompted their violent actions.
Harrington recounted hearing the sound of duct tape and a struggle as Breton was assaulted. He later witnessed Breton and Triscaru bound with cable ties and duct tape while sitting on a couch, with Breton showing visible injuries.
As the situation escalated, Harrington mentioned that Triscaru became increasingly distressed upon seeing the toolbox that was intended for their confinement. Testimony suggested that Taiao physically struck the victims to force them into the cramped space of the toolbox, which was then loaded into a utility vehicle.
Despite the chaos, Harrington claimed he chose not to accompany the group to the creek but instead focused on cleaning blood from the unit, suggesting a chilling sense of complicity or fear amidst the unfolding violence.
The trial, presided over by Justice Glenn Martin, continues as the jury hears more evidence about the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Breton and Triscaru, delving deeper into the events leading to their tragic end.