A man accused of murdering a Kooringal High School student has told the court about the moment he picked up a knife in “panic” after “trying to calm himself”.
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Bryce Cliff is alleged to have stabbed 16-year-old James Cleghorn about 30 times at the family’s Acacia Street home on June 7, 2016.
The 30-year-old has pleaded not guilty to murder – instead opting to plead guilty to manslaughter which was not accepted by the prosecution.
In the Wagga Supreme Court trial on Monday, Cliff was called to the stand by defense counsel Eric Wilson.
Cliff told the court he and James Cleghorn’s sister, Schuhada Paiboonbudsrakam (also known as Preem and Proy), had owned a house together that they lived in while dating in Melbourne.
Cliff retraced his steps on the day of the alleged murder, giving evidence about his trip from Wollongong to Wagga to visit James’ father about a car he had sold him years prior.
The court heard Cliff had “waited around” in Wagga, consuming methamphetamine and ketamine, while making sure James’ mother was not at the house when he arrived as they “didn’t get along”.
In his testimony, Cliff admitted that on the day in question he struck James to the face, causing him to fall on the ground.
“He asked about the house and why I put his sister through a bad settlement,” Cliff said.
“What happened in that conversation?” Mr Wilson asked
“I felt like he threw it in my face about getting the house transferred back to me, so I got up and backhanded him,” Cliff said.
“You actually hit him?” Mr Wilson asked.
“Yes, because like I said, I felt like he threw it in my face.”
Cliff told the court he went outside on the verandah to “try and calm himself” while yelling at James, who remained in the lounge room, to look up the train schedule.
The court heard James had told Cliff he had heard he was threatening to take the family’s Acacia Street home.
Cliff gave evidence that he was hit from behind when he headed back inside.
“You’re saying James jumped on your back?” Mr Wilson asked.
“Yes because I hit him in the mouth – I leaned forward and couldn’t breathe, he jumped on my back and I headbutted him in the mouth – then I leaned over the kitchen and grabbed a knife,” Cliff said.
“Why?” Mr Wilson asked.
“Because I was panicked and confused,” Cliff said.
“What was your mind telling you?” Mr Wilson asked.
“I was confused about what was going on, I saw the knife on the stove and I grabbed it.”
Senior Constable Scott McPharland gave evidence that James died sometime between 7.48pm and 8.02pm that night.
Cliff is yet to be cross-examined, with the trial to continue on Tuesday.