Steven Walker-Ely faces murder trial over Birdsall Fa’apepele’s death
A man charged over the brutal stabbing of a young man at a Mackay caravan park will be defended by a top barrister when he faces a Supreme Court trial.
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The brutal stabbing of a young New Zealand man at a Mackay caravan park almost two years ago will go to trial next year.
Birdsall Fa’apepele’s body was found on vacant land off the Bruce Highway about 3am on December 14, 2021, near the Paget caravan park off Farrellys and Broadsound roads.
The 25-year-old was stabbed in the neck, face and abdomen.
Steven Dean Michael Walker-Ely, who lived at the caravan park, is charged with murder.
The case was heard briefly in Mackay Supreme Court on Monday.
Defence lawyer Sean Gibbs, of Fisher Dore Lawyers, said Mr Walker-Ely would be represented at trial by Brisbane silk Saul Holt – considered one of the state’s top barristers.
Mr Holt got Mr Walker-Ely bail initially, and he remains on bail on the murder charge, and also represented him during the committal hearing in May.
Mr Holt’s resume includes successfully defending Gable Tostee – who was charged with killing his Tinder date Warriena Wright on the Gold Coast in 2014 – during a marathon trial.
He also represented veteran Moreton Bay mayor Allan Sutherland in 2020 who was charged with official misconduct by the state’s Crime and Corruption Commission, and the charges against Mr Sutherland were later dropped by the CCC during the committal process.
During Monday’s mention, Mr Gibbs told the court that Mr Walker-Ely’s trial is expected to run for five days.
“There are significant admissions that have already been made with respect to this trial,” Mr Gibbs said.
However, crown prosecutor Tiffany Lawrence said the trial could stretch to seven days.
“As I understand it, there hasn’t yet been an agreement reached as to the admissions,” she said.
Justice Graeme Crow set Mr Walker-Ely’s trial for June 3, 2024, in Mackay Supreme Court.
He urged both legal counsel’s to bring the case before him again if any issues arise, and for them to finalise an agreed statement of facts to simplify the trial.
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Originally published as Steven Walker-Ely faces murder trial over Birdsall Fa’apepele’s death
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