News Service from House Harris

Qld: Man kills teenager during birthday brawl, court hears

BRISBANE, Feb 3 AAP - A man fatally stabbed a teenager during a brawl at a birthday party, a court has been told.

Daniel Makesi Valusaga, 22, used a knife to kill 18-year-old Solomone Christopher Latu at the Civic Centre Park in Logan, south of Brisbane, on July 16, 2006, the Supreme Court in Brisbane was told on Tuesday.

Prosecutor Belinda Merrin said the blow was inflicted with such force that it cracked one of Mr Latu's ribs, sliced through his internal organs and left a dent in his spinal column.

Mr Latu, of Woodridge in Brisbane's south, died later that day.

Valusaga, of Marsden, has pleaded not guilty (not guilty) to murder.

He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter on the first day of his trial, however this plea was not accepted by the crown.

Ms Merrin told the court Valusaga had armed himself with two knives and had gone to the party to seek revenge on people who had beaten up his younger brother, 20-year-old Leon Sapati Valusaga, earlier that evening.

She said Leon also armed himself with an axe and the pair had chased his attacker.

When they couldn't catch the attacker, they turned on another male at the party, the court was told.

Ms Merrin said Mr Latu tried to break up the fight by punching Valusaga, and it was then that Valusaga delivered the fatal stab.

The trial is expected to run for eight days before Justice Philip McMurdo.