Violent ‘over-reaction’ alleged as cause of fatal Gold Coast bird feeding brawl

An ‘innocuous question’ from a neighbour over a trivial issue led to the violent death of a Gold Coast man, police have alleged in court.

A Queensland man is alleged to have died from “homicide by heart attack” after a neighbour’s violent “over-reaction” to a trivial issue involving bird feeding, a court has been told.

Allegations of Trevor Dale Wheeler’s mental state and the extent of his alleged attack at a suburban home on the Gold Coast were revealed on Wednesday as the 48-year-old applied for bail at Brisbane Supreme Court.

Mr Wheeler was charged with the manslaughter of Bradley Ward, 60, at Labrador on November 18.

Police allege the pair became involved in a violent clash after Mr Ward allegedly asked Mr Wheeler to stop feeding birds in his yard.

It is alleged Mr Ward was knocked to the ground before being hit with a broom handle Mr Wheeler had retrieved from his house.

On Wednesday, crown prosecutor Rebecca Guppy-Coles said the medical evidence indicated it was a “homicide by heart attack” brought on by Mr Wheeler’s allegedly “vicious and sustained” assault.

She opposed bail on the grounds Mr Wheeler was a risk of committing further similar violent offences.

Trevor Dale Wheeler has been charged with the manslaughter of Labrador man Bradley Ward, 60, in November. A court has been told Wheeler had a history of mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The court was told Mr Wheeler allegedly chased a man down the street with fishing knives in 2019.

Ms Guppy-Coles said a concerning aspect of Mr Wheeler’s alleged attack on Mr Ward was the continued assault, as Mr Wheeler appeared to kick Mr Ward in the head multiple times while he was lying in the gutter.

“Additionally, it’s the moment in time the deceased, assisted by his elderly mother, attempts to return to his house and while his back turns the applicant (Wheeler) retrieves a weapon and continues to assault him by hitting him in the head,” Ms Guppy-Coles said.

“An innocuous question by the deceased caused the applicant to fly into a vicious rage and launch the assault.”

A video of the alleged assault was played to a closed courtroom.

Mr Wheeler’s defence lawyer told the court his client would live in Rockhampton, more than 600km north of Brisbane, if granted bail.

Police at the scene of Mr Ward’s death. Picture: Nigel Hallett

He said Mr Wheeler had a minor and dated criminal history and submitted his client could live in the community without committing further offences.

Justice Soraya Ryan raised issues about Mr Wheeler’s mental health, noting he had a history of anxiety and depression.

The court was told he allegedly made admissions in the watch house that he wanted to die.

“The circumstances of this offence suggest an over-reaction to something relatively trivial, which has had tragic consequences,” Justice Ryan told the court.

She adjourned the matter to a date to be fixed, saying there was not enough evidence to make a reliable decision on bail.

Mr Wheeler will remain on remand.