DistantNews
🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

Cage Fighter Claims Amnesia in Friend's Murder Trial

From ABC Australia · (13m ago) English Critical tone

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A cage fighter on trial for murder claims he has no memory of attempting to dispose of his friend's body.
  • Prosecutors allege the accused used martial arts skills after an argument during a sparring session, leading to his friend's death.
  • The defense argues that while tensions rose, the accused did not intend to cause serious injury, noting the use of boxing gloves.

In a Sydney courtroom, the trial of Bradley Dusan Fletcher, accused of murdering his best friend, Bradley Evennett, has taken a dramatic turn. Fletcher, a cage fighter, claims a complete lack of memory regarding the disposal of his friend's body, a detail prosecutors argue is a fabrication designed to mislead the court.

What the f**k have you done?

— Fletcher's girlfriendHer reaction upon arriving at the scene and seeing the unconscious Mr. Evennett.

The Crown's case paints a grim picture: Fletcher allegedly used his martial arts expertise in a fit of rage during a backyard sparring session, resulting in Evennett's death. This narrative is directly challenged by Fletcher's defense, which posits that the altercation, though heated, involved boxing gloves and lacked intent to cause grievous harm.

I didn't know that it affected him as an adult.

— Bradley Dusan FletcherResponding to the Crown prosecutor's suggestion that he knew his friend had a brittle bone condition.

Fletcher's testimony revealed a moment of panic after he realized Evennett was unconscious. He described calling his girlfriend and attempting CPR, during which he heard a 'crack' and began pacing. His girlfriend's arrival was met with an expletive-laden accusation: 'What the f**k have you done?' The court also heard that Fletcher was aware Evennett had a childhood bone condition, Osteo Imperfecta, a fact the Crown suggests Fletcher deliberately downplayed, despite Evennett having previously raised the issue after similar sparring incidents.

This is a man that, I suggest, you well knew had a brittle bone condition.

— Crown Prosecutor Kate RatcliffeSuggesting Fletcher was aware of the victim's medical history during cross-examination.

Under cross-examination, Fletcher admitted to hitting Evennett 'quite hard' after becoming 'upset' by his friend's punches. He described his response as 'instinctive,' involving punches and a kick, which led to him landing on top of Evennett during a tackle. He further stated he didn't call emergency services immediately, claiming he 'didn't realize it was as bad as it was.' The defense continues to assert that Fletcher did not intend to kill his friend, setting the stage for a complex legal battle.

No, it's not true.

— Bradley Dusan FletcherDenying the prosecutor's suggestion about his knowledge of the victim's condition.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog