The mother of New Zealander Warriena Wright, who died after falling from the balcony of Gable Tostee’s 14th floor Surfer’s Paradise apartment, has criticised the judge in Tostee’s murder trial saying she didn’t want to hear her daughter’s screams.
Merzabeth Tagpuno said in a statement, read out to media by a family representative, that the “media… have made this trip the most saddest, hardest trip I have ever had to endure”.
Warriena Wright’s mother’s angry statement. Via Facebook.
"I asked not to release the audio tapes - yet I was over-ruled by the judge. I did not want to hear my daughter screaming, 'No, no, no'. I did not want to remember her like that," Ms Tagpuno said.
"I feel our family had been disrespected by the judge's ruling to release the audio tapes to the media. To those who want an exclusive from my family, we're saying 'No'.
"The judge gave you everything - that is enough."
A family friend read the statement. Via 1 News.
She said:"The media have hurt me so bad. When this is over I will go back to New Zealand. I want to be left alone. Please respect my privacy, I will not talk to anybody; just leave our family in peace.
"No matter how this goes, I just want to go home."
Audio recorded by Tostee of the night appeared to show the pair fighting, and captured Wright's terrified screams, as Tostee allegedly refused to let her go home.
The court heard that he locked her on his balcony, before she plunged to her death while trying to climb to the balcony below.
While prosecution has not suggested Tostee pushed or threw Ms Wright off the balcony, but that he locked her outside and intimidated her so much she felt her only means of escape was climbing down. Prosecutor Glen Cash also alleges Tostee choked Ms Wright after she threw a decorative rock at him.
Top Comments
What a self-serving individual is Tostee, showing complete disregard for someone's life and only concerned about saving his own butt. Didn't call 000 - he called his daddy. Hope he gets what he deserves in jail
The fact he recorded everything is so weird, too.
He might not be a good person but it is apparent from the recording he started taping it because she was paranoid and crazy and violent. He seemed pretty reasonable up until she tried to clobber him with something heavy. Then it sounds pretty bad after that. He then became nasty and her fear in her voice is heart breaking. But is it justified fear or a continuation of the paranoia that had her accusing him of stealing her phone?
It clearly wasn't murder but I am undecided on manslaughter and am glad I am not on the jury.
He started recording as soon as they both arrived. He recorded their sex. He didn't record because he was fearful for his safety - it was for his own gratification later on. I would be beyond shameful if he were my son.