VIC:Man admitted slitting throat, court told

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2011
VIC:Man admitted slitting throat, court told

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MELBOURNE, Aug 23 AAP - A Victorian man accused of slitting another man's throat during
a neighbourhood brawl confessed his crimes to friends, a jury has heard.

Rowan Biram, 39, was fatally stabbed after venturing outside his Heidelberg West home
to quell a large fight in November 2009, the Victorian Supreme Court was told on Tuesday.

Tjay Tunja, 26, of Rosebud West is accused of slashing Mr Biram's throat during the
altercation on November 21.

Prosecutor Brendan Kissane said the fight began as a domestic dispute and spilled outside,
prompting Mr Biram to come outside and yell at the group to "shut up" and "f**k off".

The group was screaming and had broken off nearby fence palings to use as weapons,
Mr Kissane said.

Tunja had been visiting the family where the argument originally broke out in Alamein Road.

Mr Kissane told the jury that although no one saw Tunja stab Mr Biram, several witnesses
were visited by Tunja later that night and he told them he had slit someone's throat.

Tunja went back to one of the homes the following day to deny he had stabbed anyone,
in a bid to cover his tracks, Mr Kissane alleged.

An autopsy found Mr Biram's jugular and carotid artery were severed in the attack,
Mr Kissane said.

Tunja has pleaded not guilty to murder.

Mr Kissane's opening address to the jury before Justice David Beach is continuing.

AAP md/gfr/dep/hn

KEYWORD: TUNJA

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