Man accused of fatally stabbing footballer acted in self defence during ‘macho madness’ brawl, court told

The defence for a man accused of fatally stabbing a Brisbane footballer told a jury his client was defending himself in ‘10 seconds of macho madness’.

Did a shocking stabbing outside a Brisbane leagues club unfold because a former manager intended to kill a footballer he hated, or because he was defending himself during “10 seconds of macho madness”?

These questions were posed to the jury in the murder trial of Levi John Stephen Elliott as his defence counsel and the crown closed their arguments on Thursday.

Mr Elliott has pleaded not guilty to fatally stabbing Adam John Woodward with a butterfly knife outside the Brothers St Brendan’s Leagues Club on August 24, 2018, arguing it was self-defence.

Adam John Woodward died from 17 stab wounds, including a fatal wound to his jugular vein, inflicted during a brawl outside a Brisbane football club in 2018.

Throughout the trial, the jury was told Mr Elliott antagonised Mr Woodward through the night, before goading him to fight on the street.

During the brawl, Mr Woodward suffered 17 stab wounds, including a fatal wound to his neck.

The pair did not like each other; Mr Woodward had been in a dispute with Mr Elliott’s mother since her car had been damaged.

The jury was told Mr Elliott believed Mr Woodward had treated his sister Mackenzie Siglin badly following a one-off sexual encounter between the pair.

On Thursday, crown prosecutor Caroline Marco told the jury Mr Elliott knew Mr Woodward would be at the club that night following a phone call with Mackenzie.

Greg Maguire, Mr Elliott’s barrister, said this intense dislike was not a sound reason to murder or seriously harm Mr Woodward.

Mr Maguire said Mr Woodward threw the first punch and began attacking his client while on the ground.

He argued Mr Elliott was defending himself during “10 seconds of macho madness” mixed with alcohol and “past history”.

“Adam Woodward may have lived by the motto ‘No Mercy’ but I’m not asking for mercy for Levi Elliott,” Mr Maguire said during his closing address.

“I’m simply asking for a true verdict … place yourself on your back, in semi-darkness, in that volatile situation with hostile people around, being hit repeatedly in the head by a strong, fit man.

“Instinct kicks in, fight or flight … all he (Mr Elliott) could do was fight.

“He used whatever means was available to him; it just happened to be that stupid knife.”

Earlier in the trial, the jury was told Mr Elliott was showing off the knife to friends in the club, performing tricks.

The pair’s fight erupted outside the Brothers St Brendan’s Leagues Club in Rocklea after a night of rising tensions in August 2018.

Ms Marco said Mr Elliott took the butterfly knife to the club for the “nefarious” purpose of using it in a fight against Mr Woodward if the pair came to blows.

“Unlike other knives, this one is special, as it can have an innocent purpose,” she told the jury.

“He didn’t take it to do tricks in front of his friends.”

Ms Macro said CCTV footage outside the club, which was played to the jury, showed Mr Elliott with one hand in his pocket and another clutching a bottle.

She urged the jury to reject Mr Elliott’s account of the events, after he took the stand on Wednesday.

“You would think the defendant continued to be at pains to paint himself as the victim,” Ms Marco said.

“He tried to present an innocent explanation for every incriminating statement he made, whether it was what he was saying … was taken out of context, or he was embellishing to witnesses what happened.

“The defendant clearly had long, strong feelings of animosity to Adam Woodward, so much so he could not stand to be in the same room with him.”

Ms Marco will continue her closing remarks on Friday.

The trial continues.