A recent trial in Queensland involves three men accused of the 2016 drownings of Cory Breton, 28, and Iuliana Triscaru, 31, during an alleged drug-related punishment. The prosecution claims the men murdered the pair by forcing them into a toolbox, which was later found submerged in Scrubby Creek, weighted down with concrete blocks and tyres.
The defendants—Stou Daniels, Davy Malu Junior Taiao, and Trent Michael Thrupp—have pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder. During the trial, defence attorney John Fraser asserted that Daniels was present at the scene but did not intend for the situation to escalate to murder. He described the incident as a “boot ride,” a common intimidation tactic in drug circles aimed at scaring victims rather than killing them. Fraser argued that this act was not meant to be fatal and that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Daniels had knowledge of any lethal intent from his companions.
Crown prosecutor Nathan Crane contended that Daniels and Taiao were directly responsible for the incident, having allegedly forced the victims into the toolbox prior to their deaths. Thrupp was reportedly involved in either discarding the toolbox into the creek or being present when it occurred.
The jury was informed that Breton and Triscaru might have still been alive when the toolbox was thrown into the water, complicating the evidence against the defendants. Fraser pointed out that the Crown had not established that Daniels was aware of any intentions to kill, suggesting that the tragic outcome of the boot ride was unforeseen.
The trial has featured testimony indicating that the key witness, Lelan Harrington, had given inconsistent statements and had lied to secure a more lenient sentence for his own criminal activities. Defence barristers from Taiao and Thrupp further claimed that their clients were not responsible, suggesting that each other’s clients or Harrington himself may have been the actual perpetrators. Fraser raised serious doubts about Harrington’s credibility, asserting that he had been exempted from serving jail time for his cooperation.
Justice Glenn Martin is set to provide final instructions to the jury before they commence deliberations on their verdicts. The conclusion of this case could shed light on the complexities surrounding accountability in criminal acts linked to drug-related violence in Australia.