Murder accused admits to party stabbing
A man accused of murdering a young father at an Atwell party started a fight that quickly spiralled out of control after mistakenly accusing a man of stealing a speaker, a court has been told.
Ashley James Gunson is on trial in the Supreme Court over the stabbing death of Jamie Devine in January.
He admits fatally stabbing the 20-year-old to the chest with a pair of scissors on January 11 but claims he was acting in self-defence.
Mr Gunson has also been charged with unlawfully wounding two men, Brodie Brouns and Karl Viandante, at the Lydon Boulevard house party.
The court was told a fight broke out in the early hours of the morning when Mr Viandante was helping a DJ pack up his equipment.
In her opening address, prosecutor Amanda Forrester said Mr Gunson started a fight with a partygoer after accusing Mr Viandante of stealing a speaker.
The fight moved out on to the road before Mr Gunson stabbed Mr Devine with a pair of scissors.
Ms Forrester said Mr Gunson was assaulted after he ran from the scene.
His clothes were then burnt at his home and he was later arrested at a friend's house.
Ms Forrester told the court Mr Devine posed no threat and there was no justification or excuse for Mr Gunson's behaviour.
"The accused was seen to approach Jamie Devine, not fend him off," she said.
Mr Devine was killed just over a week before his 21st birthday.
The wound to his chest severed an artery and was about 10cm deep.
Defence lawyer John Bougher told the Supreme Court his client was not trying to avoid responsibility for the death.
He said Mr Gunson was involved in a brawl and was motivated by self-defence.
The trial continues.
