April 29, 2015
The trial of a man charged with manslaughter following the sudden death of Kingaroy resident Shaun Miles in 2013 began in the Brisbane Supreme Court today.
Paul Bruce Sutton, from Sutherland in Sydney, has pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Miles, 43.
Sutton, an NRL player agent, was in Kingaroy at the time to watch an U18s rugby league carnival.
Mr Miles’ body was found by early morning joggers on May 24, 2013, on the corner of Fisher Street and Alford Street East in Kingaroy.
Crown Prosecutor Belinda Merrin told the court today that Mr Miles and Sutton had been involved in two incidents the night before at the Club Hotel.
The first involved Mr Miles’ verbal reaction after he thought he heard Mr Sutton make a disparaging comment about the attractiveness of local women.
However, she said, things escalated when the pair met later in another part of the hotel.
On this occasion Mr Miles had called Sutton a “scumbag” and had taken a swing at him.
She said Sutton had grabbed Mr Miles, lifted him up and dropped him to the ground, fracturing his skull.
She alleged Sutton used more force than “was reasonably necessary”, causing his death later in the night.
CCTV footage of the incident was played to the court.
The trial is continuing.
Several witnesses are expected to give video evidence from Kingaroy.
