Cairns man jailed for fatally stabbing housemate in fight

Steven Edward Anderson, 69, received a seven-year prison sentence for the manslaughter of his housemate, Darren "Lenny" Smith, 57. The fatal incident occurred in the early hours of May 10, 2023, at a shared residence in the Cairns suburb of White Rock.

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turn the f***ing music down

The court heard that Anderson was on parole for drug offenses at the time of the altercation. He and Mr. Smith, who had been renting rooms in the house for about two years and three months respectively, were involved in a fight. Anderson had moved in more recently, being a long-term friend of the homeowner.

The confrontation reportedly began after Mr. Smith, who had been drinking and playing loud music, refused to turn it down when Anderson, needing to leave early the next morning, yelled at him. The homeowner intervened, taking a speaker from Mr. Smith and warning that one of the men would have to leave if they couldn't coexist.

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Come out and fight

However, around 1:20 a.m., the homeowner was awakened by Mr. Smith yelling challenges to Anderson. Mr. Smith had also used a marker to write threatening messages on a shared fridge. During the ensuing fight, which involved a wrestle, Anderson disarmed Mr. Smith and stabbed him three times in the chest, causing a fatal wound to his left lung and heart.

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I've got more right to be here than you

Anderson immediately called emergency services and attempted to resuscitate Mr. Smith until paramedics arrived. Mr. Smith died at the scene. Statements from Mr. Smith's former wife, Aya Eto, and his brother, Michael, were read in court, detailing the "terrible void" and profound grief his death has caused, particularly for his two teenage sons.

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not known with any certainty