Gold Coast fatal stabbing victim Nicholas Braid: final ‘happy’ night

A close friend of stabbing victim Nicholas Braid has recounted the final night she spent with him just before his tragic death.

Nicholas Braid spent the night before his death with friend Isabelle Marlor and she says she will forever cherish that “happy” time. Picture Facebook

GOLD Coaster Isabelle Marlor is cherishing the “happy” final moments she spent with fatal stabbing victim Nicholas Braid, including falling asleep on his shoulder on Monday night.

“It was nice to see him and I am glad I got to spend the time I did with him. The people that were around him at the time were stoked they got to spend the little time they did,’’ she said this week.

“Yeah, it was a really happy time. I ended up falling asleep on his shoulder.”

Isabelle Marlor of Surfers Paraadise was among the last people to spend time with Nicholas Braid on Monday night, 24 hours before his stabbing death. Picture: Mike Batterham

Just under 24 hours later he was dead after being stabbed in Surfers Paradise, prompting his heartbroken friend to post online that night: “He was one of a kind, such a kind guy. Always willing to help someone in need. I will miss you so much.”

Ms Marlor, 21, told the Bulletin Mr Braid had been temporarily staying at her place for a few days before his shock death on Tuesday evening.

She had met him years earlier, admittedly while hanging around what she described as a bad scene on the Coast.

Nicholas Braid - described by friend Isabelle Marlor as “honestly one of the kindest sweetest guys I have ever met”. Picture: Supplied by Family

“Nick was honestly one of the kindest, sweetest guys I have ever met. Out here in the world of drugs and crime it’s dangerous for any female. I was 13 years old hanging out with people more than double my age, constantly putting myself in unsafe situations. Very few people cared about what happened to me back then. Even now at 21 years of age, few people care about me. But he was one of them.”

Loved ones and friends have described the 35-year-old Mr Braid, who had law and international business degrees – and at one time worked for the Local Government Association of Queensland – as someone who had his battles but never lost his sense of loyalty and generosity, especially for those close to him.

Isabelle Marlor only has good memories of friend Nicholas Braid who died in Surfers Paradise on Tuesday night: “Very few people cared about what happened to me back then. Even now at 21 years of age, few people care about me. But he was one of them (who did). Picture: Richard Gosling

He had been in and out of court the past few years and had been released from custody on bail for three stealing charges just a week before the stabbing.

Ms Marlor’s fresh memories tell a similar story.

She recalls that Mr Braid, who was days from turning 36, was always trying to get those around him to do better in life despite his own battles to get his life back on track.

“Even a little time with Nick would make you smile and think about the good times. It is going to be really hard to live without that,’’ she said.

“He would make every bad situation, not that bad. That is the thing I will miss the most.

“When things got really bad and you did not think things were going to get better, he would make it better.

“It wouldn’t matter what time of the day it was. Whatever he was doing he would drop anything and come and see you.

“He would make it better. Even if it was not permanently better, temporarily he would. That was such an important part of why he meant so much to me. I could rely on him to make life a little bit better.”

Witnesses have said paramedics frantically tried to revive Mr Braid for 10 minutes on the footpath outside the Beachcomber tower in Surfers Paradise before he was taken away in an ambulance.

He later died in Gold Coast University Hospital.

Freedom Anderson, 20, was charged with one count of murder on Wednesday night and remains in custody.