A Queensland court has heard that a "two-timing" carnival worker told one of his girlfriends he had jumped on a man's throat and kicked him in the head.
Tasmanian man Kyam Keith Broadby, 25, is on trial for the alleged murder of his colleague Nathaniel Wailu, who was found unconscious at the Mareeba Show, west of Cairns, in July 2019.
Mr Broadby has pleaded not guilty.
The Supreme Court in Cairns heard Mr Wailu, 35, was taken to Townsville Hospital but died five days later from severe head injuries.
Melbourne woman Nadia Gallo today told the court she had been dating Mr Broadby at the time and the pair had travelled to Launceston to see his mother after he returned from working in Far North Queensland.
"He told me something really bad had happened and that he was involved in it," Ms Gallo told the court.
"He was crying and he kept saying he was having nightmares every time he closed his eyes."
She said Mr Broadby told her the alleged victim had been threatening workers with a hammer and that he (Mr Broadby) had punched Mr Wailu in the face.
"The man ended up running, he ran into the bushes," Ms Gallow said she was told.
She said Mr Broadby had told her, "Kyam had turned a flashlight on ... and was chasing him at a fast pace".
"He said that he jumped on his throat and kicked him and hit him in the head."
Prosecutor Nathan Crane told the court earlier this week Mr Wailu had been drinking heavily and was intoxicated when he headbutted a female show worker and later "swung a hammer around", threatening show worker Dekoda Bell-Pickett, who Mr Broadby was also dating and who is a witness in the trial.
Mr Broadby's barrister, Martin Longhurst, disputed Ms Gallo's recollection of the conversation with his client.
"The relationship between you and Kyam effectively ended because you found out he was sleeping around with Dekoda," Mr Longhurst said.
"Yes," Ms Gallo said.
"He was two-timing you," Mr Longhurst said.
"Yes," Ms Gallo replied.
"You're in contact with Dekoda who felt the same way?" Mr Longhurst asked.
"Yeah."
The trial before Justice Susan Brown is expected to continue into next week and will hear from more than 30 witnesses.
