Cleared over stab death
CLAY Peter Stone is a free man after a jury returned a not-guilty verdict at the end of his trial over the death of 32-year-old Raymond Smerdelj in October 2019.
Mr Stone pleaded not guilty to manslaughter at the start of his trial last week.
The jury returned their verdict late on Monday afternoon after just five minutes consideration.
Their decision was cold comfort to Mr Smerdelj’s former partner and the mother to his children Ekala Grieve.
Ms Grieve said she still missed “Smerdz”.
“How can I not when our daughter is a girl version of him,” she said.
“I truly hope that Clay’s children never have to endure the pain of losing their father as my children and (Mr Smerdelj’s) eldest son has.
“Ray’s kids now have to talk to just a picture on a gravesite. He wasn’t the perfect person, no one is. Everyone has a past, but Ray loved his three kids with all he had.”
During the trial, the court heard how an October afternoon in Innisfail began with Mr Smerdelj catching up with friend Shania Barlow for the first time since just being released from jail.
But it ended violently, after Mr Smerdelj entered Clay Stone’s apartment demanding to buy a half ball of ice. The court heard Mr Stone had previously lied about having drugs in a ruse to solicit sex from Brittany Eyles, who was in Mr Stone’s room at the time Mr Smerdelj turned up, making his demand.
When told to leave, Mr Smerdelj began assaulting Mr Stone, who happened to be holding a knife at the time, the court was told.
Mr Smerdelj bashed Mr Stone in the head before grabbing him by the collar and delivering several uppercut and over-the-head punches. It was during the altercation that Mr Stone attempted to push Mr Smerdelj away while holding the knife, delivering the fatal wound to his heart, the court heard.
The jury ultimately sided with the case put forward by defence barrister Frank Richards, who told the court on Monday: “This case is about a naive young man whose illconsidered and misguided attempts of bravado placed himself in harm’s way”.