The lawyer representing Brisbane man Gable Tostee appeared on Thursday night’s episode of The Project, and was faced with the questions many have been asking throughout the duration of the trial.
Speaking with hosts Waleed Aly, Carrie Bickmore, Gretel Killeen and Peter Helliar via video link — just hours after his client was found not guilty of murder or manslaughter — Nick Dore didn’t have an answer as to why Tostee recorded audio throughout the night of Warriena Wright’s death.
“Um… I’m unaware as to why it was recorded,” Dore admitted.
“Obviously it was lucky it was recorded, otherwise, if it wasn’t, no-one would have believed what transpired that night.”
Warriena Wright was 26 when she died on August 8, 2014. On Thursday afternoon, her distraught loved ones sat in Brisbane’s Supreme Court and heard the jury’s not guilty verdict.
The recording, which heard the deceased hauntingly scream "no" repeatedly before she plunged to her death from the 14th storey balcony, was contentious.
Just one week ago, Wright's family admonished both the media and judge and said releasing the audio to the public "disrespected" their family.
When Aly asked Dore if the decision to use the "distressing" audio was integral to his team's defence case, he insisted it was.
"[Without the audio] it would've been a different trial, because it's one of those rare cases where the whole incident is recorded," he responded.
Dore also believes the result of the jury's deliberation could have been different without the audio.
"It is very, very rare in criminal trials that [a full recording] occurs. It could've been a different outcome."
The difficulty in reaching a verdict — an arduous process that took the jurors four days — was recognised and praised by Dore, who appreciated the "relatively tough legal issues" they needed to navigate.
Despite the incredible initial indecision of the jury, Dore says he does not expect an appeal, something Aly — who completed a Bachelor of Laws at The University of Melbourne — disagreed with.
Citing that one of the jurors ousted her involvement with the trial on Instagram, Aly wondered "whether or not that might be grounds for an appeal".
"If you are on the prosecution and you see that happen, don't you run off to a court and say, 'Well, the Judge needed to look at that more?'"
While Justice Byrne labelled the juror's behaviour “disappointing”, he said it did not warrant a mistrial.
Top Comments
"Gable Tostee’s lawyer has answered the questions many have been asking"
No, he has not. For example, just one of the questions:
"Nick Dore didn’t have an answer as to why Tostee recorded audio throughout the night of Warriena Wright’s death"
You obviously don't understand ASD / OCD
And you obviously don't read. No matter the reason, the lawyer didn't answer the question - he said he "didn’t have an answer".
I have heard today that he has Asperger's Syndrome which, if true, answers a lot of questions about his odd behaviour and lack of expression.
I am so very sorry that Miss Wright died from a fall off his balcony. I believe that alcohol and possibly illicit substances played a huge part in this tragedy.
People need to understand the consequences of going to a strangers home minutes after meeting them in person.