Gable Tostee has been found not guilty of killing a young woman he met through Tinder.
The 30-year-old Australian has been cleared of both the murder and manslaughter of Warriena Wright, 26, who fell to her death (opens in new tab) from Tostee's 14th-floor apartment balcony in the early hours of August 8, 2014.
Gable Tostee a free man, aquitted of both murder and manslaughter of Warriena Wright in 2014 pic.twitter.com/vM8brYahMj (@JohannaMarie_)October 20, 2016
Wright went back to Tostee's Brisbane apartment after she met up with him at beach spot, Surfers Paradise. Tostee allegedly strangled Wright and was recorded saying he would "chuck her" from his balcony before she attempted to escape (opens in new tab) and fell to her death.
Although prosecutors told Brisbane Supreme Court they did not claim Tostee had thrown Wright to her death, they suggested that the New Zealand tourist was so frightened of him that she fell while trying to to flee his apartment. The court rejected this allegation.
Prosecutor Glen Cash argued that Tostee became angry with Wright after she was violent towards him, which prompted Tostee to restrain her before locking her out of his apartment on the balcony, reports The Independent (opens in new tab).
Defense lawyer Saul Holt denied Tostee was responsible for Wright's death, saying she had become aggressive towards him after a night of drinking.
According to Sky News (opens in new tab), a pathologist testified that Wright had "severe injuries to all her body that caused her death" and said that "poorly defined" red marks on her neck were "not consistent with any application of force."
The verdict was delivered after days of deliberations during the nine-day trial.
Tostee's lawyer Nick Dore gave a brief statement to the media outside the court and told 7 News Queensland that his client was "very relieved" after a "tumultuous two years living under the microscope."
Gable Tostee's lawyer Nick Dore speaks to 7 News. @SharynGhidella https://t.co/suYW09Tesw #7News https://t.co/ELmUkBCcd4October 20, 2016
Deborah Taylor, from the Queensland Homicide Victims' Support Group, spoke on behalf of Wright's family.
"As you may appreciate, Warriena Wright's family are still coming to terms with the loss of their daughter and their sister, as well as enduring the anguish of being present here for these trial these last two weeks," she said.
Tostee did not give a comment as he left the court.
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