June 6, 2014
A Nanango man charged after a death at an engagement party in 2011 has been found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.
Stephen Doyle, 41, was charged with murder following the death of Michael Thomsen, 37, from Laidley, at a house in Fitzroy Street, Nanango, on September 3, 2011.
Thomsen suffered a fatal knife wound during a fight at an engagement party for his daughter, Bianca.
A Brisbane Supreme Court jury this week found Doyle not guilty of murder, but guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter after a week-long trial.
The court was told a fight broke out at the party involving a number of people. A witness saw Doyle run up the stairs into his house, which was next door, and come back down with a knife.
Justice Ann Lyons yesterday sentenced Doyle to nine years jail and ruled that the time he had been held in custody since his arrest be counted as time served.
Doyle will be eligible for parole in 2016.
