CLOSING ARGUMENTS IN TOSTEE MURDER TRIAL:
WHO: Gable Tostee, 30, on trial in Brisbane Supreme Court for murder of New Zealand tourist Warriena Wright.
WHAT: Ms Wright, 24, fell to her death climbing over Tostee's 14th floor Surfers Paradise balcony in the early hours of August 8, 2014.
HOW: Audio recording made on Tostee's mobile phone was key evidence, capturing sounds of the lead-up to and eventual death of Ms Wright.
PROSECUTOR GLEN CASH:
- "He has caused her death as much as if he pushed her from the balcony himself"
- Tostee used more force than reasonably necessary to restrain Ms Wright, who threw small rocks at him
- Taunted Ms Wright and sounded angry as he used his body weight to keep her pinned on the ground
- "Tall and muscular" Tostee dominated "slight and petite" Ms Wright
- Intimidated her with comments including, "you're lucky I haven't chucked you off my balcony, you goddamn psycho bitch"
- Used unnecessary force to restrict her breathing, possibly with a chokehold, when she allegedly hit him in the head with a metal clamp. She acted in self-defence
- Cut off her only means of escape by locking Ms Wright out on the balcony, ignored her pleas to let her go because she'd "been a bad girl"
- Ms Wright was so terrified the only chance she had to escape was to climb down to seek refuge in the apartment below.
DEFENSE BARRISTER SAUL HOLT QC:
- "You don't get convicted of murder or manslaughter for saying stupid things or for being angry"
- "Massively drunk" Ms Wright said and did erratic and irrational things entire evening, (she was) "out of control"
- Tostee managed "craziness" of person he'd only just met with patience, gentlemanly manner
- Tostee lawfully permitted to restrain her because she attacked him with rocks in his own home
- Possible "gurgly" sounds not him choking her, likely just breathing laboured after struggle
- Ms Wright hit Tostee in head with metal clamp after he restrained her
- Tostee de-escalated situation by shutting and locking balcony door, creating safe space for both of them
- Not foreseeable Ms Wright would climb over balcony seconds later in darkness to "certain death"
- Tostee's actions afterwards including calling a lawyer and buying pizza not reflective of guilt.
