'Fear of Tostee' caused Warriena Wright to fall to her death, prosecution says

Gable Tostee will not take the stand during his murder trial over the death of Warriena Wright, who fell to her death from his 14th floor apartment.

Justice John Byrne told the court that he didn't expect to finish his summing up of the case until Monday.

In the fifth day of the trial, Prosecutor Glen Cash said the 26-year-old tourist did not have her phone on the balcony with her and was faced with two options: Go back inside the unit and face Tostee, or try to escape.

Cash went on to say that Ms Wright’s intense fear of Tostee was the definitive factor in her choice to attempt to climb over the balcony railing.

He told the jury he hoped to convince them that the 30-year-old Gold Coast man was guilty of murder or manslaughter.

Warriena Wright and Gable Tostee.

The jury was played more recordings of the events that night, this time of the duo messing around and “play wrestling”.

Roughly an hour later, Ms Wright began to throw decorative stones at Tostee.

Cash said there was “probably” an unlawful assault by Warriena on Tostee.

Tostee can be heard yelling “ow” as he is allegedly hit by the rocks, prompting the situation to turn sour.

“You’ve worn out your welcome, you’re not my kind of girl. You have to leave,” he could be heard telling Ms Wright.

The duo embrace on a Surfers Paradise street. Source: 7News

Tostee and Wright head to his apartment. Source: 7News

“Ok,” she replied. “It’s all good.”

Cash told the court that Ms Wright ended up on the floor with Tostee restraining her. He said whatever the level of danger presented by Ms Wright, the situation was under control by Tostee.

In the tapes, Ms Wright agreed to leave but Tostee continued to restrain her.

“I’m sorry,” she could be heard saying.

Audio of what the prosecution claims is Ms Wright being strangled was then played.

In the audio Tostee tells Ms Wright she doesn't "understand anything" while guttural noises can be heard in the background.

The duo head to Tostee's apartment with a six-pack. Source: 7News

Tostee and Ms Wright made a brief stop at a Gold Coast nightclub before returning to the apartment.

"Let go," Tostee can be heard to say. "You think you can hit me and I'll just, like, fall down, like in the movies?"

The crown noted that the tables had now turned, and it was Ms Wright defending herself against Tostee.

But in Thursday's session, defence barrister Saul Holt QC said the noises were made by his client restraining Ms Wright after she became increasingly erratic.

The sound of her screams filmed the courtroom again as the jury was played the tape of Ms Wright’s panicked last moments.

Cash said her screams indicated that her terror was bordering on hysteria.

"No, just let me go home," she yelled as Tostee locked her out on the balcony.

"I would but you have been a bad girl," Tostee replied.

Cash told the court the jury would need to be convinced that Tostee intended to cause her grievous bodily harm to find him guilty of murder.

He explained that if the 45 seconds that Tostee restricted her breathing caused her to fall, it could be classified as murder.

The Crown finished by addressing the jury to reiterate that Tostee was responsible for Ms Wright’s death.

Cash urged them to reach a “true verdict” of murder, but said a guilty verdict of at least manslaughter would still suffice.

Tostee has pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Wright in the early hours of August 8, 2014, with his defence suggesting he is not criminally responsible because he could not have foreseen Ms Wright's fatal fall.