Gable Tostee as good as pushed Warriena Wright from the balcony of his Gold Coast apartment if he instilled such fear and terror that she felt climbing down 14 floors was her only escape, a court has heard.
Prosecutor Glen Cash QC told the Supreme court in Brisbane there was “terror bordering on hysteria” in Ms Wright’s voice as Tostee forced her onto his balcony.
He said she continued to plead to be allowed to go home after being locked out of the unit on the night she died.
Tostee, 30, has pleaded not guilty to murdering the New Zealand tourist who fell to her death from his Avalon Apartment in August 2014.
It is alleged the pair had been on a date after meeting on the Tinder app, but became involved in a violent, drunken altercation in Tostee’s unit in which Ms Wright threw rocks at the accused and tried to hit him with a telescope.
In his closing address, Mr Cash said Ms Wright had “probably” unlawfully assaulted Tostee, but he said the force the accused used in response was unreasonable.
Mr Cash argued when Ms Wright tried to hit Tostee the “tables had turned” and she had become the victim who was trying to defend herself.
He said Tostee had very quickly dealt with the danger posed and restrained Ms Wright.
The court heard he continued holding her down, told her to leave and she agreed before he forced her onto the balcony – without her phone.
Prosecution outline ‘two options’ facing Wright.
Mr Cash argued Ms Wright’s fear of Tostee prompted her to attempt to climb down from his 14th floor balcony.
“Why was she climbing down at all?” he asked to the jury.
“Why was she attempting an act which even while sober and in daylight would undoubtedly be considered dangerous?
“The prosecution, ladies and gentlemen, says the answer to that question is fear.
“Fear of the defendant. Fear of Gable Tostee. Fear of what he would do to her if he let her back inside.