NZ tourist had 80 separate injuries: trial

A New Zealand tourist who fell to her death from Gable Tostee's 14th floor unit in Surfers Paradise had 80 separate injuries, a trial has heard.

Gable Tostee (L) and his lawyer Nick Dore

The murder trial of Gold Coast man Gable Tostee is set to hear from the final prosecution witness. (AAP)

New Zealand tourist Warriena Wright's petite body was so mangled after she fell from Gable Tostee's 14th-floor balcony a pathologist couldn't even tell how tall she was, a jury has heard.

Ms Wright died in the early hours of August 8, 2014 after a night of drinking and sex with Tostee, whom she met on dating app Tinder during a two-week holiday in Australia.

Pathologist Dianne Little told Tostee's murder trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court the 26-year-old had a blood alcohol level of 0.156 when she died, three times the legal driving limit.

The blood alcohol test was taken using her eye fluid because the only remaining source of blood found in her chest cavity had been contaminated, the court heard.

Dr Little said Ms Wright's body had 80 separate injuries and had "almost folded over itself" when she examined it two days after the incident.

Her head was bent right over her torso and a part of her jeans was found in a skull fracture.

Ms Wright was only 162cm tall and weighed 57kg but Dr Little said it was hard to say what her true height was because of the trauma.

The court also heard Ms Wright had multiple "self-inflicted" scars on both wrists, right thigh and chest.

Tostee is not alleged to have pushed or thrown Ms Wright off the balcony.

The trial has heard he restrained her after she threw a small decorative rock at him, which was later found by forensics to be covered in a smudge of his blood.

Tostee then told Ms Wright, "You're lucky I haven't chucked you off my balcony you goddamn little psycho bitch".

Prosecutor Glen Cash alleges Tostee choked Ms Wright as he intimidated her and that she can be heard struggling to breathe on an audio recording taken on Tostee's mobile phone.

Dr Little said there was no physical evidence Ms Wright had been choked or strangled but agreed there was a small possibility such an act could occur without leaving a mark.

The court has heard Tostee told his date he was going to let her go and walk her out of the apartment just the way she was.

"I'm gonna slam the door on you. If you try to pull anything I'll knock you out, I'll knock you the f*** out," he said.

Ms Wright then allegedly tried to hit Tostee with the clamp from a telescope, which prompted him to lock her out on the balcony.

"You think if you hit me I'll just fall down like in the movies?" he said.

Ms Wright repeatedly screamed "no, just let me go home" but Tostee told her "I would but you have been a bad girl".

Neighbours have testified hearing Ms Wright's cries and seeing her legs dangling from above as she tried to climb over railing before she fell, ricocheting off balconies below.

The trial will continue on Friday with both lawyers due to give their closing submissions.


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Source: AAP


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