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On Thursday, the jury heard a police statement made shortly after the death of Mr. Scopelitis, in which Rogers claimed he had no knowledge of any serious assault or murder occurring at his apartment complex.
The court was also shown a video recording of Rogers, who was visibly agitated and occasionally used profanity while speaking with police following his murder charge the next day.
“It wasn’t murder. He came at me with a large knife and I was defending myself,” Rogers asserted during the police interview.
He further expressed his belief, “That’s not how this country should operate. If someone attacks you with a knife, you should be able to claim self-defense.”
Rogers recounted to the authorities that Mr. Scopelitis had traveled from Noosa, almost 50 kilometers away, to initiate the altercation and had allegedly brought along a large knife or small machete as well as another individual.
“I’m the innocent party. They came and tried to get into my house with a f***ing machete,” Rogers said.
“I’m getting charged with murder. It’s not right, mate. Now I’m going to jail for life.”
Rogers had woken about 11.30pm and heard Mr Scopelitis banging on the front door of his unit demanding repayment of a $500 debt.
Mr Scopelitis died from losing two litres of blood after being stabbed and slashed in the chest with his own knife that he had brandished in front of Rogers.
During the video shown to the jury, Rogers told police he knocked the knife out of Mr Scopelitis’s hand, and punched and kicked him once or twice while he was lying on the ground.
Rogers said he picked up the knife and “grazed” Mr Scopelitis on he shoulder.
“He kept coming at me. That’s when I stabbed him,” Rogers told police.
Detectives asked Rogers if he had the chance to run away or call for help before Mr Scopelitis was stabbed.
“I don’t know. I wasn’t thinking, mate. Have you ever had someone have a go at you with a machete?” Rogers said.
The jury also heard Mr Scopelitis had methamphetamine, benzodiazepine, anti-psychotic medication, cannabis and alcohol in his system, according to an autopsy.
The trial is due to resume next week and run for another three days before Justice Declan Kelly.
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