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Home / New Zealand

Lawyer called seconds after fatal plunge

Patrice Dougan
By Patrice Dougan
Assistant Chief of Staff·APNZ·
9 Sep, 2014 07:40 AM3 mins to read

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Warriena Wright and Gable Tostee.

Warriena Wright and Gable Tostee.

Accused balcony killer Gable Tostee called his lawyer seconds after New Zealand woman Warriena Wright plunged to her death from his high rise Gold Coast apartment, court documents allege.

Tostee, 28, who has been charged with the Upper Hutt woman's murder, did not call police after she fell from his balcony just hours after the pair met through dating app Tinder.

Half an hour later he ordered a pizza, before calling his father to pick him up, the police documents tendered in the Brisbane Supreme Court allege.

Timelines of the night of Ms Wright's death have been pieced together from the documents and published in Australian media today.

They appear to show the pair met at 8.45pm on August 7, and by 2.21am the next morning Ms Wright, 26, was lying dead on the ground outside his Surfer's Paradise apartment block.

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The police case is based on an audio recording retrieved from Tostee's mobile phone, which claims to reveal the pair had an argument following a night of drinking and sex.

They row and a struggle ensues during which Tostee allegedly chokes Ms Wright before locking her out on the balcony.

She can be heard saying "let me go home", to which Tostee allegedly, replies: "I would but you have been a bad girl."

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Ms Wright repeats her plea to go home, before a faint scream is heard on the recording at 2.21am, Australian media reported.

Tostee then calls his lawyer, Michael Purcell, but the call doesn't connect.

A neighbour in the apartment below, who was awakened by the row and Ms Wrights screams, witnesses her fall from the balcony and calls emergency services at 2.23am.

Police arrive two minutes later, as Tostee uses his fob key to leave the building. He evades police by taking the elevator to the basement, and at 3.10am a call is placed to order a pizza. Around 10 minutes later he calls his father, Gray Tostee, who allegedly collects him around 3.47am.

Discover more

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Three screams before Kiwi's fatal plunge

10 Aug 08:33 PM
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'I absolutely did not cause this girl to fall'

11 Aug 01:17 AM
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11 Aug 05:00 PM
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12 Aug 02:44 AM

Tostee went to police with his lawyer at 11.30am.

Details of the case against Tostee emerged after a bail application hearing was yesterday adjourned to allow for more information to be brought before the judge.

Justice Debra Mullins said the murder case against Tostee was "weak" as he wasn't on the balcony at the time of Ms Wright's death, but that a manslaughter charge might be more suitable.

Tostee maintains he is innocent.

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