Ashleigh Jayde Gyorosi in court over Stephen John Berka’s murder

A woman accused of murdering a Sunshine Coast man, remembered as having a “massive heart”, is claiming the case against her is based on “speculation” as more details emerge.

Details surrounding the death of a much-loved Sunshine Coast man have emerged as the woman accused of his murder claims the case against her is based on “speculation”.

Ashleigh Jayde Gyorosi, 30, is charged with murdering Stephen John Berka, 62, along Stringybark Rd, Buderim in the early hours of May 16, 2020.

Police allege the pair were involved in an argument about the ownership of shoes when Ms Gyorosi threatened to stab him with a knife she had in her possession.

An audio recording played in court heard Mr Berka continually tell Ms Gyorosi to “f--k off” before she allegedly followed him through a nearby shopping centre and out onto Stringybark Rd.

Ms Gyorosi allegedly continued to follow Mr Berka with a knife for 640m until he was hit by the left side of a passing car.

Mr Berka, who was allegedly under the influence of meth at the time of the accident, later died at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

Ms Gyorosi was previously charged with unlawfully stalking while in possession of a weapon before the charge was substituted with murder in March, 2021.

Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard a triple-0 call made by Mr Berka minutes before his death during which he claimed he had been stabbed by Ms Gyorosi.

Ms Gyorosi’s barrister Catherine Morgan said there was no evidence to suggest her client, who was pregnant at the time, did anything that caused Mr Berka’s death.

“The prosecution has engaged in fanciful speculation,” she said.

Ms Morgan said post mortem examinations, paramedic statements and Mr Berka himself said he was not stabbed.

She said the driver who allegedly hit Mr Berka said the pair were walking down the side of the street and was adamant they were not pushing and shoving each other.

Ms Morgan challenged the police’s suggestion that Mr Berka was acting in fear of Ms Gyorosi when he was hit.

She said Mr Berka was surrounded by police and could have safely told officers he acted in fear, but instead said Ms Gyorosi had done nothing wrong.

“He didn’t say ‘she was chasing me and I was running down the road’, he didn't say that so it is impossible to infer that that's what he was doing in the face of his own statements to the contrary,” she said.

Ms Morgan said during police webcam footage and a triple-0 call made by the alleged driver Ms Gyorosi was obviously concerned about reassuring and getting assistance for Mr Berka.

She said her concern was inconsistent with any inference police were seeking to draw that she had done something to cause serious harm or death to Mr Berka.

Ms Morgan noted there was no evidence to suggest Ms Gyorosi had pushed Mr Berka onto the road.

She said police could not prove Mr Berka was acting in fear and trying to escape when he was hit by the car.

Police prosecutor Leonie Scott said the case against Ms Gyorosi was not based on “speculation”.

Sergeant Scott said there was a series of events that lead to Mr Berka being hit by the car and said it would be up for a jury to decide what role they played in his death.

She relied on written submissions provided to the court, but did make reference to CCTV footage that allegedly showed Ms Gyorosi closely following the 62-year-old through a Buderim shopping centre while holding a knife.

Sergeant Scott said Mr Berka didn’t deny being stabbed by Ms Gyorosi when police asked him on the side of the road and the lack of any stab wound didn’t preclude him being poked with a knife.

She said the definition of being stabbed could have been interpreted differently by Mr Berka who told police he had been moments before being hit.

Sergeant Scott said the pair had a relationship and suggested Mr Berka could have been protecting Ms Gyorosi while answering questions or distracted by his significant injuries.

Family friend Jasmine Thompson, 23, who knew Mr Berka her whole life, previously told The Courier-Mail he was loved by many and will be missed dearly.

“Steve always put others before himself and was just a great man, he had a heart of gold it’s going to be different without him,” she said.

Magistrate Kurt Fowler adjourned his judgment until March 18.