Beau Stapleton-Wescott cross-examined in brother Thomas’s double attempted murder trial

There’s been explosive testimony in a trial for a man accused of a bloody axe attack, with his brother - whom the defence has argued is the real culprit - telling him to “take his own life”.

A “gutless coward” who allegedly left two middle-aged housemates fighting for life in their Smithfield Plains home should “take his own life”, his own brother has told a court.

However, the defence counsel for the accused, Thomas Stapleton-Wescott, 34, has told a court his brother Beau is the mastermind of the attack.

Beau appeared in the Supreme Court on Friday in front of Justice David Lovell to give evidence in the double attempted murder trial of his older brother Thomas, of Northfield.

The accused has pleaded not guilty to both counts at the start of his judge-alone trial.

Beau Stapleton-Wescott appeared in the District Trial to give evidence in the trial of his brother Thomas. Picture: Facebook

During cross-examination, David Moen, for the accused, submitted Beau was the mastermind behind the alleged violent attack, and had made a conscious effort to “cover his tracks” and frame his younger brother after he himself brutally bashed victims Neil Sieben and Antoinette Macskimming.

Beau has denied the accusation.

“On April 25, 2023, you callously and brutally attacked Neil Sieben at his home, didn’t you? And on that same day, you brutally and callously attacked Toni (Antoinette) Macskimming, didn’t you?” Mr Moen said.

“Why did you say in a text message to your brother that you ‘wanted to smash the f**k into him (Mr Sieben)’?

“Let’s deal with the next (text) bubble: ‘I feel like hurting someone’ ... so, why were you saying this to Thomas?

“You then go on to say as well: ‘I don’t care about a charge – we will just get him outside the gate first.”

Beau Stapleton-Wescott replied, saying he wasn’t a “nice person, but it doesn’t mean I’m a violent, angry person now”.

“I have so much hatred inside of me for him (Thomas), you don’t understand how much hatred I have towards him,” Beau said. “He is a gutless, coward man.”

The court heard Beau had written in a text message that Thomas should “take his own life”.

When Mr Moen put that to Beau, he replied, “yeah, for what he’s done”.

Thomas Stapleton-Wescott is appearing in the District Court for a double attempted murder trial. Picture: Facebook

Thomas Stapleton-Wescott is appearing in the District Court for a double attempted murder trial. Picture: Facebook

It’s alleged the accused, Thomas Stapleton-Wescott, had engaged in a property dispute with Mr Sieben over the ownership of his late father’s caravan just a day before they were “left for dead”.

Last week, prosecutor Melissa Wilkinson submitted the argument was “the catalyst” for what occurred the following night, alleging Thomas arrived back at the victim’s property on his motorbike – disguised by his helmet and armed with an axe – and proceeded to strike both Mr Sieben and Ms Macskimming with significant force, leaving the house “covered in blood”.

She further alleged Beau called the Elizabeth police station about 19 hours later and asked them to do a welfare check at the victim’s address following a cryptic conversation with his brother.

However, Mr Moen claimed Beau had, instead, “carefully orchestrated” both an alibi and his movements.

On Friday, Mr Moen told the court Beau had a previous conviction in 2013 for an aggravated cause serious harm charge for which a three-year jail term was suspended.

Beau Stapleton-Wescott said the altercation occurred from a “drug-related money debt”.

The trial continues on Monday.