Gatwick Hotel resident accused of murder denies intent to kill
A RESIDENT of St Kilda’s infamous Gatwick Hotel was captured on CCTV throwing a large knife moments after a homeless man was stabbed, a court has heard.
A MAN accused of murdering a homeless person found bleeding to death in Melbourne with a perforated leg artery has denied he intended to kill him.
Earl Jones is on trial in the Supreme Court of Victoria for the murder of Stephen Lowry at The Regal rooming house, St Kilda, in the early hours of August 1, 2016.
On Monday, crown prosecutor Andrew Grant said Mr Jones, 29 at the time of the alleged murder, had a dispute with Mr Lowry over “property”.
He said Mr Jones was captured on CCTV throwing a large knife — or a machete — into the courtyard of a nearby property soon after.
Mr Grant said forensic testing showed Mr Lowry’s DNA on the blade, and Mr Jones’ DNA on the handle.
It is alleged that Mr Jones entered the Grey St property after 3am, with the pair fighting and Mr Jones striking Mr Lowry to the mouth, breaking his dentures and injuring his face.
It is then claimed Mr Jones stabbed Mr Lowry to the leg with a knife, perforating his femoral artery.
“That perforation resulted in massive blood loss,” Mr Grant said. Although emergency services were called, “they were unable to save his life” and he was declared dead at 5.36am, the prosecutor added.
A witness, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is expected to give evidence that he saw Mr Jones scaling the front gate of the rooming house. The witness is expected to say he later heard a groaning sound before finding Mr Lowry in blood-soaked jeans, lying in a large pool of blood. An axe handle and a piece of dowel were found under his body along with another knife under his coffee table.
Mr Jones was found two days later at another St Kilda rooming house, the Gatwick Hotel.
He denied assaulting and stabbing Mr Lowry.
Defence lawyer Daniel Sala said it would be difficult to prove that Mr Jones intended to kill Mr Lowry.
The trial continues.