‘Broken heart’ led to Brisbane man’s death, murder accused says

The death of a man whose decomposed body was found in his Brisbane unit may have been due to his broken heart rather than the actions of his accused murderer, a court has been told.

Andrew Wright Stephens’ body was found at his home at Taringa in inner Brisbane on September 3, 2020.

Michael Bradley Small has pleaded not guilty in the Brisbane Supreme Court to murdering the 48-year-old days earlier on August 30.

Prosecutors have argued Small disliked Stephens for interfering in the 37-year-old’s relationship with Scott Richard Gordon.

Small’s barrister Michael Bonasia said Stephens literally had a broken heart due to illness and heavy, long-term methamphetamine use.

He also had a broken heart figuratively because the love of his life, Gordon, did not want to be with him, Bonasia told jurors in his closing address on Thursday.

Bonasia said Stephens would show up randomly and unexpectedly, message constantly and excessively, and was interfering in the relationship.

“But a person can be jealous, a person can have hatred and a person can be desperate without intending to kill.”

Bonasia said jurors could not be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Small was a cause of Stephens’ death.

“Now that we’re at the end of the trial, you can see why this trial is simply about a broken heart, not one where someone’s formed an intention to kill or do at least grievous bodily harm.”

The Crown alleges Stephens let Gordon into his house in the early hours of August 30, with Small entering separately.

Bonasia said Gordon told the court he had had enough of the abuse and wanted the two men to sort things out.

“He told you that what he was expecting was an argument, a full-blown argument, maybe a bit of a punch-on but that’s probably about it.”

Bonasia questioned the reliability of evidence given by Gordon during the trial.

“This is a man who sold his story to the Crown for the reward of a manslaughter instead of a murder.”

Instead of serving a life sentence, he walked out of court on the day he completed the deal, Bonasia said.

Prosecutor Clayton Wallis earlier told jurors Small had a “burning antipathy” for Stephens.

“It was the fairytale ending Mr Small wanted - the fairytale being (Stephens’) killing,” Wallis said in his opening.

Small is then accused of struggling with a naked Stephens and taping his mouth.

“Small set about a torturous escapade by kicking and stomping on (Stephens’) head,” Wallis said.

During the alleged torture, Small injected his own blood into Stephens’ heart.

Afterwards, the men allegedly rummaged through the house looking for drugs, money or other evidence.

Stephens’ decomposed body was found by police days later, covered with a blanket and a pink sex toy nearby, the jury heard.

Justice Peter Callaghan is due to sum up the evidence before jurors begin their deliberations.