The jury has started deliberating its verdict in the case against an Australian man accused of murdering a New Zealander and stuffing his dismembered body inside a chilly bin.
David Hickson has pleaded guilty to dismembering Campbell Paterson's body in November 2014 but not guilty to murder, claiming it was self-defence.
The Supreme Court in Cairns heard Mr Hickson stabbed Mr Paterson in the neck with a "zombie slayer knife" and cut off his legs before he put Mr Paterson's body inside a 40 litre chilly bin and dumped it in rural bushland.
In the defence's closing address, Peter Feeney told the jury Mr Hickson shouldn't be found guilty of murder or manslaughter because he needed to protect himself from Mr Paterson.
"It was Hickson's belief that he had to act", Mr Feeney said.
Mr Hickson said Mr Paterson lunged for a knife when he confronted him about text messages from a crime boss.
Mr Hickson told police, "I felt that I was going to get knocked, I didn't do it just for the fun of it."
But the Crown disputes Mr Hickson's claim of self-defence and argued Mr Hickson had murderous intent.
Prosecutor Nigel Rees said Mr Hickson's then girl-friend gave evidence that Mr Hickson told her that he might have to hurt or kill Paterson.
Mr Rees also pointed to Mr Hickson's behaviour after he killed Mr Paterson.
"He dismembered another human beings body -- and to fit it in an esky he chopped it up. He didn't call the police. His behaviour of morning of the seventh wasn't panic, it was clinical."
Mr Rees said Mr Hickson covered his tracks after he killed Mr Paterson by melting down the knife, cleaning up the house and burning clothing.
Newshub.
