Balin Stewart’s accused killer takes the stand, claims he did not mean to stab teen

A teenager who allegedly killed Balin Stewart has taken the stand at his murder trial, insisting he did not realise he had a knife in his hand when he stabbed the Sunshine Coast teen.

A teenager who allegedly killed another boy is adamant he did not realise he had a knife in his hand when he went to punch the victim in the chest and pierced his heart with the blade.

The accused killer maintains he only took the knife to the fight for his own safety because he was told earlier in the night that one of the victim’s friends claimed to be carrying a knife, and the defendant claims he feared the victim was also carrying a knife.

Balin Stewart, 16, died on January 20, 2022 after he was allegedly stabbed by a 17-year-old boy in the street outside his home at Buddina on the Sunshine Coast.

His accused killer – now 18, but who cannot be identified – is facing a two-week Brisbane Supreme Court trial and pleaded not guilty to murder at the start of the case on Monday.

His legal team is not disputing that he fatally stabbed Balin, but they are disputing whether the killing was lawful on the grounds that he was acting in self-defence.

The defendant returned to the stand on Monday as Crown prosecutor Rebecca Marks continued her cross-examination.

Balin Stewart, 16, was allegedly stabbed to death outside his Buddina home on January 20. Picture: Supplied

She focused on the events of the night Balin died, including the house party Balin and a teenage girl – who was known to both boys – attended, and the messages to the defendant from one of his friends claiming that one of Balin’s friends said they had a knife at the party.

Before going to confront Balin later that night, the defendant took a knife from his family’s kitchen. The accused told the court on Monday he did that for his own safety.

This led to a grilling in court, as described below.

Balin Stewart. Picture: Supplied

Ms Marks: “But (the defendant’s friend’s) message to you that ‘they had knives” was sent hours earlier (from the party), wasn’t it?”

Defendant: “Yes.”

Ms Marks: “So later on, when … you decided to go and get a knife, you knew they (Balin and the girl) were not at a party anymore, didn’t you?”

Defendant: “Yes.”

Ms Marks: “So if you were so scared that Balin had a knife, why did you even go there?”

Defendant: “To fight him.”

Ms Marks: “You intended to use the knife to harm Balin didn’t you?”

Defendant: “No.”

The accused killer told the court he went to Balin’s house “for a fight” and he did not mean “to hurt him like that”.

The defendant insisted on the stand on Monday the fatal blow was meant to be a punch and he did not realise he had the knife in his hand.

Balin’s parents Michael and Kerri-Lyn Stewart have sat through the trial. At times members of the family shook their heads as the accused killer gave evidence on Monday denying he intended to stab Balin. Steve Pohlner

Ms Marks: “You claim you only realised after you punched him that you still had the knife in his hand?”

Defendant: “That is correct.”

Ms Marks: “The reality is that you punched him first and you both engaged in a wrestle again?”

Defendant: “No, we never had a second fight.”

Ms Marks: “And then you pulled your arm back in a very deliberate motion … And that motion was consistent with you having the knife in your hand and using it to deliberately stab Balin to the chest area, wasn’t it?”

Defendant: “No.”

Ms Marks: “You knew straight away what you had done because you did it deliberately – do you agree or disagree?”

Defendant: “I did not stab him deliberately.”

Members of Balin’s family shook their heads in the public gallery when the accused said it was not deliberate.

The accused killer finished giving evidence on Monday and is the only witness called by defence barrister Charlotte Smith.

The jury was sent home early and the trial will resume on Tuesday with closing arguments from Ms Marks and Ms Smith, before the jury begins their deliberations.