Garth Michael Reid: Man stands trial charged with stabbing murder of girlfriends dad Warren Toby

A man charged with the murder of his girlfriend’s father on Christmas Day allegedly said “I’ll show you what violence is” on the night of the fatal stabbing, a jury has been told.

The alleged chilling threat Garth Michael Reid made on the night he fatally stabbed Warren Toby was revealed on the first day of his Supreme Court trial on Monday.

It allegedly followed holiday celebrations souring after Mr Toby’s daughter – who was dating Mr Reid at the time – became upset at a joke.

Crown prosecutor Matt Le Grand said what followed was an “unjustified act of aggression causing death” in the family’s front yard.

“In other words, this was a murder,” crown prosecutor Matt Le Grand told Brisbane Supreme Court.

At the start of his opening, Mr Le Grand said Mr Reid said: “I’ll show you what violence is.”

“Those words, or words to that effect, were used by the defendant on the night he stabbed his girlfriend’s father to death,” he said.

Mr Reid has pleaded not guilty to a single count of murder.

Kieran Toby-Currie, Mr Toby’s daughter, gave evidence the night was “very pleasant” as the group drank alcohol and played games.

Later that evening she became “sad” after her father made a joke she said was centred around “white women being more attractive than black women”.

Ms Toby-Currie explained she felt like everyone was “laughing” at her expense.

“Everybody laughed, that’s why I went inside,” Ms Toby-Currie said.

“I went to walk away, to sit quietly. I’m an introvert.

“But I wasn’t losing my temper.”

Later that evening she said she heard the gate to the property opening and ran downstairs, assuming Mr Reid was attempting to leave the property.

The court was told Mr Reid hit her when she tried to stop him from leaving, causing her to fall to the ground.

“I didn’t think it was going to get physical,” Ms Toby-Currie said.

After her father was stabbed, Ms Toby-Currie said she hurled a bottle at Mr Reid’s car as he left.

The court was told she was “screaming” for her brother Ethan during the altercation.

During the crown’s opening, the jury was told Mr Toby was hosting Christmas dinner and drinks at his Hall St home in North Ipswich on Christmas Day in 2020.

Mr Reid had been dating Ms Toby-Currie since early that year.

“At Ms Toby-Currie’s suggestion, the defendant agreed to attend the festivities,” Mr Le Grand said.

“She parked her car at the defendant’s home, and the two of them took the defendant’s ute back to Hall St.”

Crown prosecutor Matt Le Grand said the group spent the day drinking alcohol, chatting and playing games but the mood “soured” later in the evening.

“You’ll hear Warren Toby made a joke, seemingly at Ms Toby-Currie’s expense,” Mr Le Grand said.

“It does not seem that he meant anything by it, but certainly Ms Toby-Currie took great offence.”

The jury was told an upset Ms Toby-Currie wanted to leave but was persuaded to stay after Mr Toby’s protested he did not want the couple to drive home drunk.

Mr Le Grand said Mr Reid “persisted” with his attempts to leave.

“When these attempts were resisted, he (Mr Reid) lashed out with violence,” Mr Le Grand said.

The court was told Mr Reid was stopped from leaving by Mr Toby and other people at the party.

Ms Toby-Currie stood between Mr Reid and the driver-side door of his ute, telling him not to drive.

The jury was told Mr Reid struck Ms Toby-Currie, who fell to the ground dazed.

“She will tell you she could see what looked like the defendant punching into Warren Toby’s chest,” Mr Le Grand said.

“The evidence will show they were not merely punches – they were knife strikes.”

Mr Le Grand said it would be alleged Mr Reid struck Mr Toby with the knife four times, one fracturing his rib.

Another fatal strike pierced his heart.

“The medical evidence will reveal considerable force was behind this wound,” Mr Le Grand said.

He died as a result of an excessive haemorrhage, about 12.10am on Boxing Day.

Mr Le Grand said this was not a “whodunit” case, explaining there would be “little dispute” Mr Toby was stabbed to death at Mr Reid’s hands.

“The true issue in this case is about what was the defendant’s state of mind when he killed Warren Toby, and whether that killing was justified, or excused by law,” he said.

“What must be shown is when the defendant delivered the death-dealing strikes … at that time, he had the intent to cause death or grievous bodily harm.”

The jury was told they could draw a conclusion about Mr Reid’s state of mind in multiple areas because of the area and number of strikes to Mr Toby’s chest, and his use of force.

“You’ll hear evidence in this case that the two stab wounds to the chest were delivered with at least moderate, possibly severe force,” Mr Le Grand said.

Mr Le Grand told the jury they would hear evidence Mr Reid told a police officer that Mr Toby and another family member had “rushed” him, so he “stepped forward and stabbed Warren”.

The trial continues.

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