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Jayden Moorea, Dan Shearin, Breeana Robinson: Gold Coast Titans cheerleader’s death leads to Southport committal hearing

LATEST UPDATES: A cruise ship crooner accused of throwing his Gold Coast Titans cheerleader girlfriend from a high rise balcony will stand trial on a charge of murder.

Jayden Moorea, formerly known as Dan Shearin, arrives at Southport court with his defence team for his committal hearing. Photo: Scott Powick.
Jayden Moorea, formerly known as Dan Shearin, arrives at Southport court with his defence team for his committal hearing. Photo: Scott Powick.

A jury will decide if cruise ship crooner Jayden Moorea threw his girlfriend off their 11th-floor balcony.

Family and friends of Gold Coast Titans cheerleader Breeana Robinson burst into tears in the public gallery when Magistrate Catherine Pirie on Friday sent the case to the Supreme Court.

The decision was made on the eighth anniversary of Ms Robinson’s death.

Moorea, formerly known as Daniel Shearin, is accused of throwing Ms Robinson from the balcony of the H20 building in Southport on January 29, 2013, and damaging evidence by destroying a mobile phone.

At the conclusion of the nine-day committal hearing in the Southport Magistrates Court, defence barrister Angus Edwards, instructed by Hannay Lawyers, said: “My position is that this matter is unlikely to have reasonable prospects at trial but that is not the test at the committal hearing.

“My position is that the evidence fits no more than that description – weak, tenuous and vague – and limps over that very low bar (to be committed to trial).”

Jayden Moorea arrives at court for the final day of his committal hearing. Picture: Glenn Hampson.
Jayden Moorea arrives at court for the final day of his committal hearing. Picture: Glenn Hampson.
Breeana Robinson’s aunt Janine Mackney arrives at court for the final day of the committal hearing. Picture: Glenn Hampson.
Breeana Robinson’s aunt Janine Mackney arrives at court for the final day of the committal hearing. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Outside court, Ms Robinson’s aunty made a tearful statement to reporters.

“It’s been a long time coming,” she said.

“Eight years to the day.

“There is still another big step to go.

“I was her aunty, I was her friend and I was her boss at work.

“She was so young, she had so much to live for and it’s just all been taken away.”

She also read a statement from Ms Robinson’s mum Elaine Robinson and brother Matthew Robinson.

“After eight long years Bree’s mum Elaine and Bree’s brother Matthew would like to thank the police task force for all their work to get us to this outcome today,” she said.

“They especially want to thank family and friends for their overwhelming and unwavering support.

“Our grief and love for Bree bonds us forever.”

Ms Robinson’s cousin Edyn Mackney said her cousin was a “star”.

“When you think dance, pink flowers and everything girly you think of her,” she said.

“She was sweet and never had a bad word to say about anyone.”

Moorea’s lawyer Chris Hannay, of Hannay Lawyers, said it could take two years before the matter got to trial.

During the committal hearing, the court was told:

* Police initially ruled Ms Robinson’s death a suicide.

* A full investigation did not begin until the coroner looked at the file and ordered a full police investigation in 2017.

* A number of neighbours were not interviewed by police until five years later.

* A police officer who had an “odd and concerning” conversation with Moorea the night of Ms Robinson’s death made no notes of the conversation until 2018. The officer spent five hours that night guarding the crime scene at the pair’s apartment.

* Witness told different stories about how Mr Robinson landed – some say she was perpendicular, with her feet pointing to the building and her head towards the street, and others say she was parallel with the building.

* The key biomechanical expert for police found she was thrown from the building. But he had based his modelling on the evidence provided, which pointed to her landing parallel to the building.

* No modelling was done for what would happen if Ms Robinson had landed perpendicular to the building.

* Police prosecutor Gavin Reece told the court that without the modelling done on Ms Robinson landing perpendicular to the building he was still of the view there was “sufficient evidence” to put Moorea on trial.

* Ms Robinson had a strained relationship with her mother after a fight about whether she would go on a cruise with Moorea.

* Ms Robinson told her cousin she had been arguing with Moorea in the weeks leading up to her death.

The committal hearing was also told about how many neighbours heard arguing the night of Ms Robinson’s death. They said it was followed by a woman screaming “no” and a loud thud.

Ms Robinson’s aunt Janine Mackney did not miss a single day of the committal hearing, attending each day holding a single pink rose in honour of the 21-year-old niece’s favourite colour.

“Eight years later, as I keep saying, it’s just not good enough, our legal system is a joke,” she told reporters on the second day of the committal hearing.

“Five years later and they are only getting witness statements. You know, you have to do better, you’ve got to do better.”

During the hearing, Ms Mackney also released an emotional video showing how close the courthouse is to the H2O building where Ms Robinson died.

DAY EIGHT: COUSIN SAYS BREEANA TOLD HER ABOUT ARGUMENT

BREEANA Robinson told her cousin that she had been arguing with her boyfriend Jayden Moorea in the lead up to her death, a court has been told.

Moorea, previously known as Daniel Shearin, is accused of throwing Ms Robinson from his 11th-floor balcony in the H2O building in Southport on January 29, 2013.

Moorea is facing a committal hearing in the Southport Magistrates Court for one count each of murder and damaging evidence.

Bianca Robinson said she drove Breeana home from cheerleading training because Moorea had refused.

The Gold Coast Titans cheerleader was unable to drive as she was legally blind.

“On the way home Breeana and I had been chatting and she said over recent weeks they had been arguing as he was not used to having someone around and someone who relied on her that much,” Bianca said.

Breeana Robinson.
Breeana Robinson.

She told the court Moorea would drop her off to training but told her to get someone else to drive her home.

“Driving her home was an inconvenience so she was told to ask me,” she said.

Bianca, also a Titans cheerleader, said the night Breeana died she drove her home.

She said the pair chatted about a number of things including being estranged from family members.

The court was told Breeana and her mother Elaine Robinson had a strained relationship in the months leading up to her death.

Bianca told the court she had offered to let Breeana move in with her in October 2012 after her mother issued the ultimatum.

“My aunt Elaine just wanted Breeana to come home but to do so she couldn’t be with Dan,” she said.

Bianca told the court it was her understanding that Bianca and her mother had stopped talking.

Breeana moved in with Moorea in December 2012.

The hearing is expected to conclude on Friday.

Earlier in court, Ms Robinson’s mother said her daughter was unrecognisable in the months leading up to her death.

Elaine Robinson also spoke about how her daughter had been bullied throughout high school and primary school.

She gave evidence on Thursday morning with a screen obscuring Moorea from her view.

Elaine Robinson told the court she and Breeana Robinson had an argument in September or October 2012 which led to a strained relationship.

She said the argument had been because Breeana Robinson wanted to go on a cruise with Moorea.

Her mother had said she could not go.

Jayden Moorea leaves Southport Court after his committal hearing in the murder of Breeana Robinson.. Picture Glenn Hampson
Jayden Moorea leaves Southport Court after his committal hearing in the murder of Breeana Robinson.. Picture Glenn Hampson

Defence barrister Angus Edwards, instructed by Hannay Lawyers, asked Ms Robinson: “Her behaviour was not consistent with your daughter you knew and understood?”

Elaine Robinson replied: “Yep.”

The cheerleader moved out of her mother’s home not long after the argument to go live with her cousin.

Elaine Robinson said she never gave Breeana Robinson an ultimatum between herself and Moorea.

She spoke about how she had only seen her daughter one or two times in the months before her death.

She described a time when she saw Breeana Robinson at work.

“When I saw her at work I told her I loved her and she told me that she loved me,” she said.

“When I left her I got a text from Dan saying don’t contact them.”

Elaine Robinson agreed her relationship with her daughter had been strained in the months leading up to her death.

She told the court that as a child Breeana Robinson had been bullied at school including being cut out of photos when graduating primary school.

Elaine Robinson said she agreed that Breeana Robinson was naive, did not have a lot of life experience and was sheltered for her age.

POLICE OFFICER SAYS MOOREA TOLD HIM HE SAW BREEANA ‘LEAPING OUT OF WINDOW’

A CRUISE ship crooner told police he saw his Gold Coast Titans cheerleader girlfriend “leaping out of the window” the night she fell to her death from a high rise balcony.

Jayden Moorea, previously known as Daniel Shearin, is accused of throwing Breeana Robinson from his 11th floor balcony in the H2O building in Southport on January 29, 2013.

Moorea is facing a committal hearing in the Southport Magistrates Court for one count each of murder and damaging evidence.

Gold Coast police Senior Constable Clifford Coetzee told the eighth day of the committal hearing he made notes that night as he spoke to Moorea.

Jayden Moorea outside court in Southport. Picture: Glenn Hampson.
Jayden Moorea outside court in Southport. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Defence barrister Angus Edwards, instructed by Hannay Lawyers, said part of the reason Sen Const Coetzee had been called as a witness was to help decipher the handwriting in his notebook.

Sen Const Coetzee said the notes showed that Moorea had told him that he was in the master bedroom while Ms Robinson was in the spare.

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“He said something like five seconds later he came out of main bedroom and saw her leaping out of the window,” he said.

Sen Const Coetzee said without the notes he would have difficulty recalling the conversation.

Last week Gold Coast police Senior Constable George Liasides told the committal hearing he had not taken notes during an “odd and concerning” conversation he had with Moorea the night of Ms Robinson’s death.

He did not record the conversation anywhere until five years after her death.

DAY SEVEN: CHEERLEADER’S TEAMMATES DESCRIBE DAYS BEFORE BALCONY DEATH

FORMER Gold Coast Titans cheerleaders have told a court about conversations with their teammate in the weeks leading up to her falling from an 11th floor balcony.

Breeana Robinson died after falling from a balcony at the H2O Building in Southport on January 29, 2013.

Her boyfriend Jayden Moorea, formerly known as Daniel Shearin, is accused of throwing her from the balcony.

Moorea is facing a committal hearing in the Southport Magistrates Court for murder and damaging evidence.

On the seventh day of the hearing on Wednesday more of Ms Robinson’s teammates gave evidence.

“We had lots of deep and meaningfuls about future and career,” former cheerleader Lauren Boyd told the court.

Breeana Robinson.
Breeana Robinson.

Ms Boyd said she did not talk to Ms Robinson about her relationship or family.

“Topics were career and sport so like dancing and what she wanted to do, yeah,” she said.

“Nothing personal about families or relationships, no not about that.”

She said they never spent time together outside of training and game days.

“She was very bubbly, always friends and always smiling,” she said.

“She wasn’t very loud and outgoing but she was always friendly when approached.”

Cheerleader Hayley Moulds said she thought Ms Robinson was becoming withdrawn.

“I remember her and Bianca having a quiet moment or talk the night of training before the incident,” she said.

“ … she was withdrawn, was withdrawing to someone she was close to.”

Another former cheerleader Stephanie Power said Ms Robinson was a “work friend”.

She told the court she declined the one time Ms Robinson had invited her to spend time together outside of the Titans.

Numerous cheerleaders have told the court they never spent any time with Ms Robinson outside of training or game day.

They also said they did not attend her 21st birthday party.

Earlier in the committal hearing the court was told that the night Ms Robinson died neighbours had heard arguing and a woman scream “no” before hearing a thud.

Some witnesses said her body landed parallel to the building while others said she landed perpendicular to the building.

DAY 6 – OUT OF SORTS’: TEAMMATE’S REGRET OVER COAST CHEERLEADER DEATH

A GOLD Coast Titans cheerleader said she wished she had asked teammate Breeana Robinson what was wrong during a training session hours before she died.

Ms Robinson died when she fell from a Southport high-rise balcony on January 29, 2013. Her boyfriend, ex-cruise ship crooner Jayden Moorea — formerly known as Dan Shearin — is facing a committal hearing in the Southport Magistrates Court for murder and damaging evidence.

It is alleged he threw her from the 11th-floor balcony of his apartment.

On the sixth day of the hearing on Monday, Ms Robinson’s former teammates gave evidence about what she was like at a training session the night she died.

Teammate Abi Lannoy said Ms Robinson seemed a “bit out of sorts”.

“When I turned around and saw her she seemed a little different, but we had a very hard warm up,” she said in a statement.

Ms Lannoy told the court she remembered thinking as she drove home that she wished she asked Ms Robinson what was wrong.

She said it also may have been because they were in the midst of a particularly hard training session.

Eight other cheerleaders gave evidence on Monday morning.

They all described Ms Robinson as quiet and said they did not socialise with her outside of cheerleader training, game days and events.

The women told the court they had not been invited to Ms Robinson’s 21st birthday party nor did they know of any one on the team who went.

“We trained together twice a week,” cheerleader Ashleigh Andrews said.

“She wasn’t really close friends with anyone in the group but she was in my dance group.”

Another cheerleader, Megan Grant, described Ms Robinson as “outspoken but not loud”.

“She was very sure of herself.”

The cheerleaders’ evidence came after an explosive first week of the committal hearing.

On Friday it was revealed a biomechanical expert had only been given one possible way Ms Robinson had landed after the fall – parallel to the building.

The positioning of her body had been controversial with some saying she landed parallel to the building and others saying she was perpendicular to the building.

Dr Zachariah Couper completed his report saying it was likely she was thrown from the building using the evidence he had – that she landed parallel to the building.

He told the court on Friday it was likely that if she landed perpendicular to the building she stepped back and fell, but he would need to do more modelling.

Magistrate Catherine Pirie gave the legal teams the weekend to determine if they needed Dr Couper to do a further report.

Police prosecutor Gavin Reece told the court on Monday that he had determined a further report from Dr Couper was not necessary.

During the first week of the committal hearing witnesses also told the court they heard arguing and a woman yelling “no” before a thud.

The hearing was adjourned until Wednesday.

DAY FIVE: DOUBT CAST OVER EXPERT REPORT

DOUBT has been cast over the expert report of a key witness in the committal hearing of a former cruise ship crooner accused of throwing his Gold Coast Titans cheerleader girlfriend from a high rise balcony.

Jayden Moorea, previously known as Dan Shearin, walked into the Southport Magistrates Court on Friday flanked by solicitor Chris Hannay and barrister Angus Edwards.

It is alleged Moorea threw Breeana Robinson from his balcony in the H20 building in Southport on January 29, 2013.

Biomechanical engineer Dr Zachariah Couper told the court he based his report on evidence he had been given.

That included that Breeana Robinson landed on a glass awning parallel to the H2O building.

During the committal hearing Dr Couper said he had not been made aware that security guard Gordon Cassidy had said he moved Ms Robinson about 90 degrees to give her medical treatment.

Jayden Moorea (right) outside court with his legal team on Thursday.
Jayden Moorea (right) outside court with his legal team on Thursday.

Dr Couper was also not aware that other witnesses had reported seeing her initially lying perpendicular to the building.

He was asked whether the change in body position would mean it was likely Ms Robinson had been thrown from the balcony.

“It would make it more likely that there was a step back and a fall,” he said.

Dr Couper stressed that he would need to do more modelling of the changed body position before he could give a definitive answer.

Magistrate Catherine Pirie said it made sense for Dr Couper to be allowed more time to do more complete modelling.

“The court has heard other evidence and the witness has said he will need to go back and reconsider the modelling and wants to give some thought to the report or what opinion he might have with other information,” she said.

“I am just wondering about whether there needs to be an adjournment for further modelling having regard to further evidence.”

Police prosecutor Gavin Reece and Moorea’s defence team will take the weekend to determine if Dr Couper should be given more time to do modelling of all the evidence.

Ms Robinson’s aunt Janine Mackney declined to comment as she was too upset.

They will make a determination when the hearing continues on Monday.

POLICE OFFICER TELLS COURT MOOREA SPOKE OF FIGHT WITH GIRLFRIEND

A former cruise ship crooner told a police officer he had a fight with his Gold Coast Titans cheerleader girlfriend the night she fell from a high-rise balcony, a court was told.

But the officer, who said he had a “concerning and odd” conversation with Jayden Moorea, did not make any notes or recordings until five years later.

Moorea, previously known as Daniel Shearin, is accused of throwing Breeana Robinson from his 11th floor balcony in the H20 building in Southport on January 29, 2013.

Moorea is facing a committal hearing in the Southport Magistrates Court for one count each of murder and damaging evidence.

Gold Coast police officer Senior Constable George Liasides outside court.
Gold Coast police officer Senior Constable George Liasides outside court.

Gold Coast police officer Senior Constable George Liasides told the court he had a number of conversations with Moorea the night Ms Robinson died.

“The conversation with him stating they had a fight happened within the unit,” he said.

Sen Const Liasides said he did not ask Moorea if he meant a verbal or physical fight.

The court was told Sen Const Liasides gave a statement in 2015 but did not mention the conversation until 2018.

The statement in 2018 included details of conversations between Sen Liasides and Moorea, the court was told.

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Sen Const Liasides said he did not record the conversation or make notes following the conversation.

“My greatest regret in my career is not having a digital recording,” he said.

“Things that were said and stuck with me.”

Sen Const Liasides said he did not make any notes of the conversation until he made the statement in April 2018 – about five years later.

He denied he was “reconstructing” a conversation but did not have any explanation as to why he did not make any notes.

DAY FOUR: COURT HEARS DETAILS OF BREEANA’S INJURIES

A GOLD Coast Titans cheerleader most likely landed on her back with her head turned to the right after falling from a high-rise building, an expert has told a court.

Jayden Moorea, previously known as Daniel Shearin, is accused of throwing Breeana Robinson from his 11th floor balcony in the H2O building in Southport on January 29, 2013.

Moorea is facing a committal hearing in the Southport Magistrates Court for one count each of murder and damaging evidence.

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On the fourth day of the committal hearing Dr Dianne Little, who performed the autopsy, said a majority of the injuries she found on Ms Robinson were likely to be related to the fall.

She some there were some rib fractures which were likely to be related to CPR.

Dr Little also told the court the injuries Ms Robinson received meant it was likely Ms Robinson landed perpendicular to the building.

The court was told Ms Robinson had “tram track” like injuries on her right arm and left calf.

Barrister Angus Edwards, instructed by Hannay Lawyers, asked her if the most likely way Ms Robinson landed to get those injuries would be perpendicular to the building.

Dr Little agreed due to the way some metal strips were positions on the glass.

A photograph of Breeana Robinson is shown by her family outside the Southport Magistrates Court. (AAP Image/Jono Searle)
A photograph of Breeana Robinson is shown by her family outside the Southport Magistrates Court. (AAP Image/Jono Searle)

The court was told Ms Robinson also had significant cuts and bruising on the right side of her face and head.

Mr Edwards asked if it was likely Ms Robinson landed on her back with her head turned to the right.

“That would explain those injuries,” Dr Little replied.

Ms Robinson also had a mark on her throat as well, the court was told.

Dr Little said it was likely that injury was caused when paramedics were trying to resuscitate her.

She said there were no injuries consistent with Ms Robinson being choked.

Jayden Moorea arrives for day four of the committal hearing.
Jayden Moorea arrives for day four of the committal hearing.

The doctor who examined Moorea on the night Ms Robinson fell to her death said she only found one injury on his body.

Dr Christine Mirakian said she saw a small cut on Moorea’s right middle finger near the knuckle.

She described it as a 1cm by 0.5cm area of redness with a small cut on the top which was already starting the scab.

“It (the scab) wasn’t something that had occurred within likely just a couple of hours,” she said.

Dr Mirakian said she saw Moorea about 2.30am the morning after Ms Robinson died and it was “likely” the cut had occurred at least 24 hours before she saw Moorea.

She said it was also likely it may have been from psoriasis.

Family members of Breeana Robinson arrive at court for day four of the hearing.
Family members of Breeana Robinson arrive at court for day four of the hearing.

Police scenes of crime officer Senior Sergeant Leon Wort said that four prints were found on the balcony railing in Moorea and Ms Robinson’s apartment.

Two belonged to Moorea and one belonged to Ms Robinson and the fourth has not been identified, the court was told.

Mr Edwards questioned Sen Sgt Wort about the other markings found on the railing which could not be identified.

“Is it the case you are unable to say whether someone climbed over that railing,” Mr Edwards asked.

“That’s correct,” Sen Sgt Wort replied.

Mr Edwards then asked: “They may have, they may not have.”

Sen Sgt Wort replied: “That’s right.”

Forensic specialist Cassie Thompson told the court she examined the clothes Ms Robinson was wearing – a top, a pair of shorts and underwear.

She told the court there were numerous small “severances” in the back of all the clothes.

She said she also found glass in the top and shorts.

Fingerprint expert Sergeant Alicia Finigan said the unidentifiable mark was a hand print but it was unclear who it was from.

“It’s an impression of a hand but here is not enough detail in order to make any other impression,” she said

Sgt Finigan said the print from Ms Robinson was from her palm with it turned at an angle on the top of the railing.

The hearing will continue on Friday with five witnesses, including a biomechanical expert.

HARROWING DETAIL ADDING TO GRIEF OF FAMILY

THE aunt of a Gold Coast Titans cheerleader who fell to her death has revealed her pain at attending court each day.

Breeana Robinson died after falling from the H2O building in Southport on January 29, 2013.

Her former boyfriend, cruise ship crooner Jayden Moorea, previously known as Daniel Shearin, is facing a committal hearing the Southport Magistrates Court for one count each of murder and damaging evidence.

It is alleged he threw her from the balcony.

Breeana Robinson

Ms Robinson’s aunt posted to Facebook a short clip of why attending court each day is so hard.

In the clip she stands in a car park across the road from the court, films the court building before turning the camera to show the H2O building nearby.

“Let me share with your all one of the hard things about being here,” she says in a teary voice.

“That’s the building where she died. It’s very hard to be in this area.”

Breeana Robinson’s aunt Janine Mackney leaving the Southport Courthouse after Day 3 of the committal hearing into the death of Breeana Robinson. Photo; Scott Powick.
Breeana Robinson’s aunt Janine Mackney leaving the Southport Courthouse after Day 3 of the committal hearing into the death of Breeana Robinson. Photo; Scott Powick.
The H20 building (top) where Breeana Robinson died is clearly visible from the Southport courthouse (below).
The H20 building (top) where Breeana Robinson died is clearly visible from the Southport courthouse (below).

Ms Mackney has been attending court each day of the committal hearing carrying a pink rose.

Pink was Ms Robinson’s favourite colours.

She has been supported by her daughters.

FOUR YEARS TO GET A STATEMENT

POLICE took almost four years to get a statement from one of the paramedics who helped treat Breeana Robinson the night she fell to her death from a high-rise, a court has been told.

Jayden Moorea, previously known as Daniel Shearin, is accused of throwing the Gold Coast Titans cheerleader from his 11th-floor balcony in the H20 building in Southport on January 29, 2013.

Moorea is facing a committal hearing in the Southport Magistrates Court for one count each of murder and damaging evidence.

Jayden Moorea (left) arrives with his legal team for day 3 of the committal hearing at Southport Magistrates Court. Photo: Scott Powick.
Jayden Moorea (left) arrives with his legal team for day 3 of the committal hearing at Southport Magistrates Court. Photo: Scott Powick.

Paramedic Andrew Busby told the court on day three of the hearing that he provided his statement in July 2017.

Mr Busby said when he arrived at the scene other paramedics were already trying to save Ms Robinson.

“When we approached her body she was laying on her back,” he said.

“She was quite precariously close to the edge so we had to move her back so we could treat her.”

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Mr Busby said the could not recall any further details about how she was lying.

Throughout the first two days of the committal hearing a number of witnesses have told the court their first statement to police was not until 2017 or 2018.

The positioning of her body has also been controversial with some saying she was perpendicular to the building and others saying she was parallel to the building. Others had no clear recollection.

Jayden Moorea (left) arrives with his legal team for day 3 of the committal hearing at Southport Magistrates Court. Photo: Scott Powick.
Jayden Moorea (left) arrives with his legal team for day 3 of the committal hearing at Southport Magistrates Court. Photo: Scott Powick.

Paramedic Dean Gamblin told the court they moved Ms Robinson further away form the edge of the glass when they arrived.

He said she was lying in a position parallel to the building.

“I believe that she was in the very similar position so we haven’t changed the angle as such,” she said.

Mr Gamblin said he could not comment is she had been moved before paramedics arrived.

He told the court as paramedics worked on her a firefighter came to assist but the glass began to move.

Mr Gamblin said he could not remember if Ms Robinson had any marks on her face or throat.

“It was dark and the lighting was quite poor,” he said.

H20 resident Ashlee Horvath told the court she was lying on her couch looking out of the balcony when she heard a scream.

“I heard a scream and saw a woman’s body go past,” she said.

Ms Horvath said she saw Ms Robinson’s feet go past, followed by her head.

She told the court the body was not quite straight up and down.

“It was a split second thing,” she said.

“I looked up and went ‘oh my gosh is that what I thought I saw’.

“I heard the loud bang and saw she landed on the glass petition under my balcony.”

Moorea’s former boss Jacqueline Lowein told the court Moorea sounded “scattered and disjointed” when he left a number of voicemail messages for her the night Ms Robinson died.

“He was saying something like ‘oh my God, Jac, Bree’s jumped and thrown herself off the balcony’,” she said.

Ms Lowein said she was working as a travel manager at Travel by Wyndham at the time.

She said she exchanged voicemails with Moorea that night but they never actually managed to speak.

“He was just very scattered, as you would be,” she said.

Defence barrister Angus Edwards, instructed by Hannay Lawyers, asked what Ms Lowein meant when she said in her statement that Moorea did not sound very genuine.

“It just sounded odd … I just remember thinking it was odd,” she said.

Ms Lowein said she thought Moorea sounded upset and at times could hear him crying.

Moorea also told her he was not going to come into work.

The committal hearing will continue on Thursday when forensic experts are expected to take the stand.

Tuesday, January 19

AUNT SLAMS LEGAL SYSTEM

THE aunt of a Gold Coast Titans cheerleader who fell to her death from an 11th floor balcony has slammed the legal system for taking so long to hear the case.

Breeana Robinson died after falling from the H20 building in Southport on January 29, 2013.

Her boyfriend cruise ship crooner Jayden Moorea, previously known as Daniel Shearin, is facing a committal hearing the Southport Magistrates Court for one count each of murder and damaging evidence.

It is alleged he threw her from the balcony.

In the first two days of the committal hearing the court has heard from a number of witnesses who did not give their first police statement until 2018 – more than five years after Ms Robinson’s death.

Ms Robinson’s aunt Janine Mackney spoke outside court on Tuesday saying she was upset by the delay.

“Eight years later as I keep saying, It’s just not good enough, our legal system is a joke,” she said.

Jayden Moorea

“Five years later and they are only getting witness statements. You know, you have to do better, you’ve got to do better.”

Ms Mackney became emotional when asked what kept her coming to court each day.

“I made a promise. She was my niece,” she said.

“Someone has to be here for her. I think it’s good that, you know, Dan’s expecting that. I’m never going to give up.”

Mr Robinson said she was reassured by multiple witnesses saying they heard the same thing – about 15 minutes of arguing before a scream.

The hearing continues.

EARLIER

A NEIGHBOUR heard loud voices before a thump the night a Gold Coast Titans cheerleader fell to death from a high-rise balcony, a court was told.

Jayden Moorea, previously known as Daniel Shearin, is accused of throwing Breeana Robinson from his 11th-floor balcony in the H20 building in Southport on January 29, 2013.

Moorea is facing a committal hearing in the Southport Magistrates Court for one count each of murder and damaging evidence.

On the second day of the hearing on Tuesday neighbour Rebecca Adams, who lived on the 18th floor, said she heard loud noises while in her bedroom.

“I thought they were coming from the street,” she said.

“I can’t say how far away the voices were but they were loud enough for me to appreciate from my bedroom.”

Dr Adams said she then heard a thump but she could not say if the loud voices continued up until the thump.

Jayden Moorea, formerly known as Dan Shearin, at Southport Courthouse with his defence team. Photo Scott Powick.
Jayden Moorea, formerly known as Dan Shearin, at Southport Courthouse with his defence team. Photo Scott Powick.

She said she was not sure if they continued after the thump as there was a lot of other noise of people in the building talking.

“I recall the body lying parallel to the building and the head was on the left and legs on the right and I remember that specifically … I could see blood coming out of the head,” she said.

Dr Adams first made a statement to police in June 2018 – more than five years after Mr Robinson’s death.

A neighbour who lived on the same floor as Jayden Moorea and Breeana Robinson described how she heard a man and woman loudly arguing before Ms Robinson fell to her death.

Julie Carroll said: “I heard an argument for at least 15 minutes … I could hear the man’s loud yelling and the woman was crying.”

Ms Carroll said the arguing stopped and she later heard a scream.

She could not recall how long it was between the arguing stopping and the scream.

Defence barrister Angus Edwards, instructed by Hannay Lawyers, showed Ms Carroll Facebook conversations she had the night Ms Robinson died.

In the messages Ms Carroll said she did not hear screaming.

A photograph of Breeana Robinson. AAP Image/Jono Searle.
A photograph of Breeana Robinson. AAP Image/Jono Searle.

“I meant I didn’t hear screams after it had happened,” she said.

“If I knew someone who fell from a balcony I would be screaming.”

Allan Walker, who lived on the seventh floor, said he was out on the balcony and heard a “swishing noise” before someone said ‘Oh, no’.”

Mr Walker said he then saw Ms Robinson fall past him.

“She was parallel (to the building) as she went past,” he said.

Mr Walker said when he saw her body on the glass awning her head was closer to the street and her feet were pointing to the building.

He said she appeared to be wearing a black bra and underwear and had landed on her back with her right hand twisted under her and her legs apart.

Jayden Moorea was charged in 2019 with murdering 21-year-old Breeana Robinson, who died after she plunged from the 11th floor of a luxury Southport apartment in 2013. AAP Image/Dave Hunt.
Jayden Moorea was charged in 2019 with murdering 21-year-old Breeana Robinson, who died after she plunged from the 11th floor of a luxury Southport apartment in 2013. AAP Image/Dave Hunt.

H20 resident Emily Turner, who lived on the eighth floor, said she heard arguing before a period of silence and then she heard a thump.

“(The silence was) no more than a minute,” she said.

Ms Turner said it was possible she had fallen back to sleep during the period of silence between the arguing and the thump.

She told the court when she looked out over the balcony she saw Ms Robinson’s body perpendicular to the building.

Jayden Moorea, formerly known as Dan Shearin. Picture: Scott Powick.
Jayden Moorea, formerly known as Dan Shearin. Picture: Scott Powick.
Defence lawyer Chris Hannay. Picture: Scott Powick.
Defence lawyer Chris Hannay. Picture: Scott Powick.

Moorea’s next door neighbour Lisa Dunscombe was in the lift with the Moorea as they went to got see Ms Robinson immediately after she had fallen.

She told the court he seemed upset.

Ms Dunscombe said she left her apartment after hearing the thump and seeing Bree on the awning.

She said she saw Moorea coming out with his phone in one hand and doing up his pants.

Ms Dunscombe told the court she and her partner got into the lift with Moorea to go down to see what happened. Moorea told the pair it was his girlfriend he caused the thud.

“He said something about his ‘beautiful Bree’ and his exact words I can’t remember and him saying ‘he could have done more’,” she said.

Ms Dunscombe said she did not remember hearing any arguing or screaming the night Ms Robinson fell.

“I know there was no screaming and there was no noise and there was no previous arguing,” she said.

Ms Dunscombe told the court when she saw Bree’s body from under the awning she was on her back, her arms out at about a 45 degree angle and parallel to the building.

She said she had a conversation that night with Moorea after he came down from the balcony.

Ms Dunscombe told the court that Moorea said to her: “I could have helped her and I could have saved her.

“I could have loved her more.”

Monday, January 18

TRIPLE 0 CALLS

TWO Triple 0 calls Jayden Moorea made the night his former Gold Coast Titans cheerleader girlfriend fell from a Southport tower has been played to court.

Moorea, formerly Dan Shearin, is facing a committal hearing the in the Southport Magistrates Court on charges of murder and damaging evidence.

It is alleged Moorea threw Breeana Robinson from his balcony in the H20 building in Southport on January 29, 2013.

During the first day of proceedings, the court was played a recording of a Triple 0 call Moorea made the night Ms Robinson died.

“We are down in the foyer, she has landed on the glass,” Moorea said in the recording.

He was asked if she was breathing.

“No, I don’t know, we can’t get up to her,” he said.

Moorea is also heard asking for a ladder.

Jayden Moorea, formerly known as Dan Shearin, arrives at Southport court for his committal hearing. Photo: Scott Powick.
Jayden Moorea, formerly known as Dan Shearin, arrives at Southport court for his committal hearing. Photo: Scott Powick.
Lawyer Chris Hannay arrives at Southport court for the hearing. Photo: Scott Powick.
Lawyer Chris Hannay arrives at Southport court for the hearing. Photo: Scott Powick.

Former H20 security guard Gordon Cassidy told the court he heard the fall and saw Ms Robinson on the glass.

He said he, another man and Moorea all got up to the awning where Ms Robinson was lying.

Mr Cassidy said she was breathing and he moved her so she was no longer on the broken glass so he could perform first aid.

The downstairs neighbour of Moorea and Ms Robinson said she heard the pair fighting before the cheerleader fell from the balcony.

Mieke Pearce said she does not remember how long it was between the arguing stopping and hearing Ms Robinson scream.

“I just feel like it all happened very quickly. From the memory I have now it all happened one after the other,” she said.

Ms Pearce told the court she heard a woman scream and “yell out no”.

The court was told Ms Pearce had moved into the unit five days earlier and had heard the pair argue two or three times.

Ms Pearce’s partner Ben Pearce told the court he remembered there being a distinct period of time between hearing the arguing and the scream.

He said could not remember the time period but agreed it could be up to 30 minutes between the arguing and scream.

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Defence barrister Angus Edwards, instructed by Hannay Lawyers, asked a number of witnesses about the position Ms Robinson was in when they saw her after the fall and before someone was able to get onto the awning to help her.

Three witness have said she was perpendicular to the building.

H20 resident Edward Wu, who lived on the ninth floor, said he remembers seeing Ms Robinson lying parallel to the building.

“All I can say is she was facing down … I don’t know whether her feet were closer to the edge of the building,” he said.

A second Triple 0 call made by Moorea has been played to the court where he told operators his girlfriend had climbed over the balcony.

“I went into the bedroom and she just ran onto the balcony and she has gone over the balcony,” he is heard saying on the call.

Moorea made the call prior to going downstairs and prior to the Triple 0 call played to the Southport Magistrates Court earlier on Monday.

His voice sounds high and he spoke in rushed tones.

The Triple 0 operator had to ask him a number of times to repeat information which could not be understood.

Next-door neighbour Alfred Schmetzer told the court he ran out into the hall after he heard a thud.

He said he saw Moorea coming out of this apartment on the phone and using one hand to put on pants.

Mr Schmetzer said his recollection as that Moorea was “focused and calm”.

A H20 resident told the court she heard Mr Robinson scream “no, no” as she feel from her balcony.

Georgina Hadid told the Southport Magistrates Court she also saw Ms Robinson falling past her fourth level balcony for a “split second”.

“She was flat on her back facing towards the sky,” she said.

Ms Hadid first gave a statement to police in November 2018 – five and a half years after Ms Robinson’s death.

She said she later saw Moorea out on the balcony while a security guard and her husband Badawi Hadid tried to help Ms Robinson.

“At one stage I did see him on the awning and he never touched her and never helped her,” she said.

“What I recall is him saying ‘Bree, I’m here for your Bree’ … no emotion, no nothing.”

Ms Hadid said she saw this from her fourth floor balcony.

MOOREA FLANKED BY LAWYERS AS HE ARRIVES AT COURT

A CRUISE ship crooner accused of murdering his Gold Coast Titans cheerleader ex-girlfriend has arrived at court for a committal hearing flanked by his lawyers.

Jayden Moorea, previously known as Dan Shearin, walked into the Southport Magistrates Court on Monday accompanied by solicitor Chris Hannay and barrister Angus Edwards.

It is alleged Moorea threw Breeana Robinson from his balcony in the H20 building in Southport on January 29, 2013.

Moorea was not charged until January 2019.

The group was stopped at the courthouse doors by security asking if they had been in Brisbane in the past 21 days.

Security provided the group with masks and asked them to wear them in the premises.

More than 70 witnesses are expected to give evidence in the committal hearing over the next two weeks.

Witnesses called will include experts, cheerleaders and police officers.

The hearing will determine if there is enough evidence for Moorea to stand trial.

Ms Robinson’s aunt Janine Mackney and another friend of Ms Robinson are in the courtroom waiting for proceedings to start, both holding a pink rose.

A photograph of Breeana Robinson. Picture: AAP Image/Jono Searle
A photograph of Breeana Robinson. Picture: AAP Image/Jono Searle

Moorea, who was released on bail not long after he was charged, has a clothing line – C.R. U. I. S. E – Can’t Rest Until I Sail Everywhere.

The apparel is sold on Moorea’s website – jdmoorea.com – where he describes himself as an “author, photographer and performance coach”.

In a court hearing in November 2019 a portion of the triple-0 call was read aloud.

“I need an ambulance, please, my girlfriend has just climbed over the balcony … I went into the bedroom and saw her climb over the balcony … she had threatened to do this before,” Moorea is alleged to have said on the call.

The committal hearing is expected to focus on what happened in the lead-up to Ms Robinson’s death and what happened in Moorea’s apartment before her fall.

Evidence from biomechanical experts is expected to shed further light on what happened that night.

lea.emery@news.com.au

Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/gold-coast/jayden-moorea-dan-shearin-breeana-robinson-gold-coast-titans-cheerleaders-death-leads-to-southport-committal-hearing/news-story/466cba56368e0a879a8c2f320237b106