A law graduate cried “call an ambulance” after he was stabbed in the chest by a woman, with a witness describing to a court the moment he fell to the ground from the fatal blow.
Freedom Mona Maunsell Anderson is on trial at Brisbane Supreme Court charged with the murder of Nicholas Braid, 35, in Surfers Paradise in April 2020.
On Friday, a statement from witness Dylan Blackman was read to the jury, as part of the admitted facts between the crown and Ms Anderson’s defence.
In his statement, Mr Blackman described seeing Ms Anderson “extend her arms out” and “push” Mr Braid backwards with both hands on the night of April 21, 2020.
“Nick pulled down the neck of his shirt and I saw blood coming from his chest,” Mr Blackman said in his statement.
“Nick said: ‘Call an ambulance!’”
Ms Anderson has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Braid.
Her plea to the lesser charge of manslaughter was rejected by crown prosecutor Stephen Muir earlier this week.
Mr Braid died from a stab wound, which punctured his aorta, outside the Beachcomber Resort just after 7pm.
The crown contends Ms Anderson was upset, as she felt Mr Braid was lying about his real name when they met earlier that night.
Mr Blackman’s statement was read to the jury after the crown closed its case on Friday.
He described Mr Braid being asked by one of the men present on the night whether he “smashed” up someone’s house – something Mr Braid denied.
Mr Blackman later described an “aggravated” Ms Anderson asking Mr Braid what his name was.
“I heard Nick say to her (Ms Anderson) ‘My name is Wade,’” Mr Blackman’s statement said.
“I heard … Freedom ask Nick again: ‘What is your name and why did you lie to me?’”
“I heard Nick say: ‘I don’t need to tell you my name.’”
The court was told Mr Blackman saw Ms Anderson “extend her arms out” and push Mr Braid, hearing a thud in the process.
Mr Blackman said he realised Mr Braid had been stabbed but did not see anything in Ms Anderson’s hands.
At the start of the trial, Ms Anderson’s defence barrister, Jacob Robson, urged the jury to consider his client’s use of drugs and her “unusual” behaviour at the time.
“It may help you in considering someone’s state of mind at the relevant time … it may offer some explanation for unusual or extreme conduct,” Mr Robson said.
The trial will resume on Monday.
