Two men, Stou Daniels and Davy Malu Junior Taiao, along with Trent Michael Thrupp, are facing charges of murdering Cory Breton, 28, and Iuliana Triscaru, 31, near Brisbane on January 24, 2016. The prosecution alleges that the victims were drowned in a toolbox, which was subsequently discovered at the bottom of a lagoon two weeks later, weighted down with concrete blocks and tyres.
The defence counsel presented their case in the Queensland Supreme Court, arguing that Daniels believed he was participating in a non-lethal ‘boot ride’—a commonplace punishment among those involved in the drug trade. Defence barrister John Fraser described this action as a way to instill fear without fatal intentions, claiming it included putting individuals in the boot of a vehicle before letting them go. He insisted that Daniels had left the scene before any violence occurred.
Lars Falcongreen, representing Taiao, emphasized that the critical aspect of his client’s defence centred on whether he was aware of any intentions to kill. He dismissed the notion that Taiao would have considered the deaths of Breton and Triscaru as a likely outcome of their actions, asserting that they were merely intended to frighten the victims.
Crane, prosecuting, alleged that Breton and Triscaru had been lured to a Kingston unit where they were tortured before being placed into the toolbox. Witnesses who testified against Thrupp claimed he was present at the location where the toolbox was disposed of, though Jessica Goldie, Thrupp’s barrister, argued against the claim that he intended to kill, noting the lack of clarity surrounding the circumstances at Scrubby Creek.
The jury was informed that several witnesses had substantial reductions in their sentences in exchange for their testimonies, prompting the defence to question their credibility and reliability. The trial continues under Justice Glenn Martin with the three accused maintaining their not guilty pleas.