A man who says he had a confrontation with murdered man Darren Reid at his house about three weeks before his death has told a Supreme Court jury he did not talk about getting revenge.
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Kate Stone, 41, has pleaded not guilty to murder in relation to the death of her partner Mr Reid, who died after suffering severe burns at the couple’s Long Gully home on December 18, 2016.
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On Friday, the court heard Benjamin Thatcher came into contact with the couple when he went to their home in November 2016 after an incident involving his son, the boy’s girlfriend, and Ms Stone and Mr Reid’s son at a splash park, where Mr Reid allegedly told his son to stab the other boy.
Mr Thatcher said the girl, the daughter of a man named Paul Gibson, identified the house where the boy lived.
Mr Thatcher said he spoke to Ms Stone and the boy outside the front door, and asked for Mr Reid but was told he was not home. The court heard Mr Thatcher did not know the couple.
He said he believed Mr Reid was home, and the conversation moved to the back of the house, at the porch.
He kept asking for Mr Reid, he said, and grabbed Ms Stone’s ankle, before Mr Reid ran out holding two knives.
Mr Thatcher said he picked up a house stump and started up the stairs before Mr Reid went back inside. He said he hit the screen door, told Mr Reid his name, then left, throwing a “bit of metal” at Mr Reid’s car.
He told the court Mr Gibson and another man, Glenn Anderson, had arrived at the house and were standing in the driveway during his confrontation with Mr Reid.
During cross-examination, Mr Thatcher denied he was in a rage or wanted revenge when he went to the house, and said he had only wanted to talk to Mr Reid about what happened.
He conceded he was “a bit hot-headed”, but refuted defence barrister Peter Kilduff’s suggestion a Jason Baxter was present at the time.
When asked by Mr Kilduff if he spoke to anyone about “exacting revenge” between the time of the incident and when he entered prison on December 12, 2016, Mr Thatcher said no, telling the court he forgot about the event. He said he was in prison on December 18.
The jury also heard from Mr Anderson, who said he was at home on December 18, 2016 and went to bed that night at 9pm or 10pm.
The trial continues.
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Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
