This was published 5 months ago
Murder charges laid over Brisbane cocaine deaths, after child phones 000
By Cloe Read
A child was forced to call triple zero after two people died from an adverse reaction to cocaine allegedly supplied by a Brisbane man, who is now facing two counts of murder.
The two friends were found unresponsive by emergency services at a house in Kentville Street, Mitchelton, in the city’s north-west, about 9am on Thursday.
Steven Mataka Henry, 41, who police say knew the pair, was taken into custody at the scene.
Two bodies were found at a property in Kentville Street in Mitchelton on Thursday morning. Credit: Nine News
He was later charged by detectives with the murder of Stephen John Peters, 61, from Keperra, and Jasmine Lee Sloane, 35, from Mitchelton.
The charges centre on reckless indifference to life, with police to allege he failed to contact emergency services for the pair after they suffered an adverse reaction to the drug.
Court documents state Henry allegedly supplied cocaine to Sloane and Peters, and was also in possession of methylamphetamine.
Senior Sergeant Mick Jones said Henry was at the Kentville Street property before the incident, and police believed he was there when the drug was used.
Jones said Henry allegedly brought the drug to the property, but could not comment on how it was taken.
He said a child who was in the home called triple zero, and there were several children at the property at the time.
“It was a traumatic situation obviously for the children, they were taken to a place of safety,” Jones said.
“We returned them to the police station, and we contacted their father ... they were spoken to by police ... and they’re now in the care of the family.”
Jones said police did not believe the incident was connected to a bad batch of drugs.
“It’s not an avenue we’re actually pursuing at the moment,” he said.
Henry’s case was briefly mentioned in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday, and he did not appear.
Due to the serious nature of the charge, Henry was unable to apply for bail.
Magistrate Julian Noud adjourned the case to October 8.