May 1, 2015
The Crown today dropped a manslaughter charge laid following the sudden death of Kingaroy resident Shaun Miles, 43, in 2013.
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.
He had died of a brain injury after suffering a fractured skull.
The previous evening Mr Miles had been involved in a dispute with NRL player agent Paul Bruce Sutton at the Club Hotel during which he hit his head on the floor.
Sutton had been in Kingaroy at the time to watch an U18s rugby league carnival.
The dispute erupted after Mr Miles took offence when Sutton allegedly made a disparaging remark about Kingaroy women.
The manslaughter trial began in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday. Sutton pleaded not guilty.
Crown Prosecutor Belinda Merrin told the court today there had been “fundamental changes in evidence” which meant she could no longer rule out that Sutton had acted in self-defence.
Justice Martin Burns discharged Sutton.
