Murder trial begins as man faces jury
THE trial of a man accused of murdering a grandmother and trying to kill two others has begun in Townsville.
Anthony James O’keefe, 37, is charged with murder over the stabbing death of Elizabeth “Beth” Kippin.
He also faces a string of other charges including attempted murder and burglary.
The 81-year-old was found in her Wulguru home with a small patch of blood on her nightie, the morning after O’keefe allegedly rampaged through the quiet neighbourhood while high on drugs.
O’keefe has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Crown Prosecutor Nigel
Rees addressed the jury as the trial began in Townsville’s Supreme Court on Monday telling the group that the case was circumstantial but evidence from multiple neighbours would piece together O’keefe’s movements disturbing the peace in the suburb on July 26, 2016.
“This accused murdered Elizabeth Kippin,” Mr Rees said.
“(He) went on a violent rampage.
“He tried to kill two others and assaulted several police when they detained him.”
Mr Rees said O’keefe’s rampage began at the home of his friend Brittny SpeechlyFaulks, Ms Kippin’s neighbour, where the pair injected amphetamines together.
The crown alleges O’keefe stabbed Ms Speechly-faulks multiple times and cut her throat after he accused her of giving him a “hot shot” – an injection of tainted drugs or a lethal dose.
Mr Rees said the alleged rampage continued through the suburb where neighbours reported a naked, armed and disoriented man damaging property, threatening others and yelling “I am going to kill some people tonight”.
O’keefe is also charged with attacking a man with a knife and threatening two other men while armed.
Mr Rees said police bodycam footage captured his violent arrest after officers found him naked and covered in blood nearby a bloodied knife and fence paling. O’keefe was tasered multiple times as officers tried to detain him.
Mr Rees said O’keefe asked police to kill him after his arrest and said “I’m on a killing spree, I am going to be famous”.
After he was taken to the hospital, Mr Rees said O’keefe admitted he stabbed Ms Speechly-faulks.
“He stated that he had stabbed Brittny and cut her head off,” Mr Rees said.
“He said ‘I wonder if she is dead, I hope she is’. He said she was trying to kill him and that it was ‘kill or be killed’.”
The first witnesses will be called to give evidence on Tuesday when the trial resumes.