May 22, 2015
A Kingaroy man charged over the death of Renee Peta Todd in 2013 has been found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.
Glen Brian Duggan, 39, had pleaded not guilty in the Supreme Court at Brisbane on Monday to murdering Ms Todd in her unit on Gladys Street, Kingaroy, on April 10, 2013.
The court was told Duggan, who had formerly been in a relationship with Ms Todd and now lived next door, had admitted drinking with her on the night she died.
He had also admitted putting his hands around her throat.
Crown Prosecutor David Meredith told the court Duggan, who was heavily intoxicated at the time, told his flatmate, and later police, that he had killed Ms Todd.
Mr Meredith said Duggan’s DNA had been found on Ms Todd’s neck but a pathologist had been unable to determine a definitive cause of death.
Barrister Callum Cassidy, for Duggan, told the jury his client did not have an intention to kill Ms Todd, which must be proved for him to be guilty of murder.
The jury retired to consider its verdict on Thursday afternoon.
Before they left, Justice Ann Lyons asked them to consider whether Duggan was responsible for manslaughter if they decided he was not guilty of intending to kill Ms Todd.
The jury resumed deliberations on Friday morning before delivering their verdict.
Duggan has been sentenced to nine years jail with a five-year non-parole period.
He has been in custody since the night of Ms Todd’s death.
