A jury is hearing for the first time what a Queensland man says happened before he stabbed his mother-in-law to death with a hunting knife. UPDATES.
Portmoresbey “BJ” Cecil has pleaded not guilty to murder, but guilty to manslaughter in relation to killing Susan Margaret Duffy on August 21, 2022, in her West Street, Allenstown, home.
Mrs Duffy had 15 knife-inflicted wounds – three of which were potentially fatal.
Defense barrister Laura Reece told the jury in Rockhampton Supreme Court Mr Cecil had driven to Mackay the afternoon of August 20 then returned to Rockhampton the afternoon of August 21.
She said on his way back, he stopped at a service station and bought a hunting knife.
Ms Reece said Mr Cecil intended to use the hunting knife to intimidate his now former wife Debbie – Mrs Duffy’s daughter – but not harm anyone with it.
She said he does not recall making a Facebook Live video on the day of the stabbing or why.
Ms Reece said Mr Cecil went to the West Street address and Mrs Duffy started criticizing Mr Cecil.
Portmoresbey “BJ” Cecil has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his mother-in-law Sue Duffy but guilty to manslaughter.
She said Mr Cecil claimed Mrs Duffy had not “interfered” in the relationship breakdown issues between himself and Debbie prior to this.
Mr Cecil claimed they argued and as Mrs Duffy went to call the police, he punched her in the face, Ms Reece said.
She said Mr Cecil insisted he left, but went back to check on her well-being.
Mr Cecil claimed when he got back Mrs Duffy threw something at him, saying “how dare you hit me”, Ms Reece said.
She said Mr Cecil claimed Mrs Duffy “started attacking him”, grabbing items to try to hit him.
Ms Reece said as he went to leave after a struggle between them, she hit him in the back of the head with an object.
“It hurts,” she said.
“He just lost his s**t.”
Ms Reece said Mr Cecil said he pushed Mrs Duffy back, grabbed the knife from his pocket and started stabbing her.
It comes after the jury heard from the forensic pathologist who conducted the autopsy and said Mrs Duffy could have died from any of three injuries inflicted on her.
Daniel Duffy and his daughter’s best friend of 20 years Kasey Mitchell leaving Rockhampton court after giving evidence in the Supreme Court trial of Mr Duffy’s former son-in-law Portmoresbey Cecil who has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Mr Duffy’s wife, Susan Margaret Duffy, on August 21, 2022.
The jury was also shown a social media video, posted on the day Mrs Duffy died, which showed Mr Cecil in a car sporting what appeared to be a bloody lip.
A family friend, Kasey Mitchell, also told the trial she saw Mr Cecil that same afternoon and he was “very wet”, soaked in either blood or water and had what looked like blood spatter on his cheek.
The trial continues.
