Murder trial told of conversation that ‘triggered’ Surfers Paradise stabbing

A murder trial has heard what a woman told an undercover police officer after fatally stabbing a man outside a Gold Coast resort.

Stabbing victim Nicholas Braid

A young woman on trial for murder allegedly told an undercover police officer she stabbed a 35-year-old man because she thought he was lying about his name.

Freedom Mona Maunsell Anderson, 23, fatally stabbed Nicholas Braid outside a Surfers Paradise resort in April 2020.

She has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to murder.

Her trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court will focus on her intent at the time of the stabbing, and any role played by the consumption of alcohol and drugs.

In his opening address to the jury on Wednesday, Crown prosecutor Stephen Muir said it was alleged Anderson had fled the scene after stabbing Mr Braid, and the knife used to kill him had never been found.

The 35-year-old man’s aorta was punctured and he was pronounced dead at the Gold Coast University Hospital about 30 minutes after he was stabbed on the evening of April 21, 2020.

Mr Muir said the jury would hear evidence that after her arrest, Anderson told an undercover police officer placed in the watch-house with her that she didn’t usually carry a knife because she “preferred to use her fists”.

He said a recording of their conversations in the cell would be played to the court.

“You’ll hear the accused was triggered prior to the killing…” Mr Muir said.

“The accused identifies a particular grievance she had with the deceased in the moments prior, she felt he was lying to her about his name in the meeting prior to the incident you’ll hear her say.

Accused Freedom Mona Maunsell Anderson

“After that issue she tried to produce a knife that she’d brought with her in her bag but instead she accidentally grabbed her brush first before locating the knife, stabbing the deceased and leaving the scene.”

Mr Muir said police allegedly found the clothing and red sneakers Anderson had been wearing when she stabbed Mr Braid in a garbage bag at a Surfers Paradise unit where she was arrested the day after the incident.

“You’ll hear an expression of frustration that her mate who she’d entrusted to do that ultimately failed and that material was located by police,” Mr Muir said of the watch-house conversation.

“You’ll hear too confirmation from the accused that there was no need for anybody else to help her to dispose of the knife, that she attended to that herself, the police haven’t found it, you’ll hear that in the recording too.”

Mr Muir said Anderson allegedly also raised questions about reports Mr Braid had been stabbed in the torso, referring to the location as being the heart, chest or lungs.

“ ‘I just went in and out’ is what you’ll hear her say,” he said.

Security footage of Anderson’s movements before, during and after the stabbing will be played to the court.

The prosecutor urged the jury to pay close attention to a particular video timestamp in which he expected they would be see the accused strike the deceased with some force.

“You’ll see him stumble back before lowering himself to the pavement,” Mr Muir said.

“Now the quality is nowhere near sufficient to reveal the knife itself but that is the fatal blow and there won’t be any dispute in that sense I anticipate.”

The trial continues before Justice Frances Williams.