‘Toolbox murders’ back to square one after alleged killers have convictions thrown out
Three men jailed after two people were locked in a toolbox and dumped in a Queensland lagoon have had their murder convictions overturned.
Trent Michael Thrupp, Davy Malu Junior Taiao and Stou Daniels will receive new trials following successful appeals.
The trio were each found guilty of two counts of murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2021.
Their trial heard drug dealers Cory Breton, 28, and Iuliana Triscaru, 31, had been lured to a unit at Kingston, south of Brisbane, in January 2016.
The pair were tortured, assaulted and bound with tape and zip ties before being locked in the toolbox that was about two metres long, 40cm wide and 60cm deep.
Hours later the toolbox was put onto the back of a ute and dumped in nearby Scrubby Creek Lagoon after being weighed down with concrete and tyres.
Queensland Court of Appeal on Tuesday ordered their murder convictions be set aside and ordered new trials for Thrupp, Taiao and Daniels.
The trio’s appeal against torture charges was dismissed.
Another man jailed over the crime known as the “toolbox murders” also had his convictions overturned this month.
Waylon Ngaketo Cowan Walker was acquitted of murder but found guilty of two counts of manslaughter in March 2021 and sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment.
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Queensland Court of Appeal this month ordered verdicts of acquittal be entered for Walker’s two convictions of manslaughter.
Walker’s barrister Damian Walsh previously submitted the convictions were unreasonable and could not be supported by evidence.
Mr Walsh’s written submission stated Walker’s alleged involvement was limited to attending the Kingston unit for an unrelated purpose and he did not interact with the victims.
