A Brisbane man accused of murdering two people, who were forced into a toolbox and dumped in a creek, may have been on drugs when he confessed to police.

February 12. 2020

A man accused of murdering two drug dealers who were forced into a toolbox at knifepoint and dumped in a creek may have been on drugs when he confessed to police.

Tuhirangi-Thomas Tahiata, 28, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Cory Breton and Iuliana Triscaru in January 2016.

The pair’s decomposing bodies were found in a large metal box later at Scrubby Creek, south of Brisbane.

They were lured to a townhouse in Kingston and assaulted before Tahiata and Trent Thrupp took them to the creek, the Brisbane Supreme Court has heard.

Prosecutor David Meredith has shown the jury a video of a police interview of Tahiata confessing to the murders.

But Tahiata’s lawyer, Chris Minnery, has raised questions about the confession, suggesting his client may have been on drugs when it was recorded.

“You knew at the time of conducting the interview my client had told police he had consumed cannabis not that long before,” he asked Detective Nicole Tunks, who was present when Tahiata made his confession.

“I suggest to you my client was affected by cannabis at the time.”

Detective Tunks denied it, saying his eyes were not red, glassy or droopy.

“There was quite a bit of eye contact (and) he didn’t seem confused,” she said.

“I know it’s different for every person but I asked him how he was affected and whether he felt like he was under the influence.”

“He replied ‘no’.”

During the police interview, Tahiata initially denied any involvement, claiming he was at a church service on the day the pair disappeared before suddenly confessing.

The Crown case is Tahiata’s ute was used to transport the toolbox with Mr Breton and Ms Triscaru still alive inside to the waterway.

Mr Meredith told the jury Tahiata helped load the box on his ute and then drove to the nearby creek.

Tahiata then allegedly helped carry the box to the shore as Mr Breton and Ms Triscaru screamed for help from inside.

Thrupp then pushed the toolbox into the water but it didn’t immediately sink, Mr Meredith said.

He said Tahiata handed Thrupp a hammer so he could punch holes into the side of the box.

The trial continues.