Man charged over fatal Brisbane bashing alleged to be ’agitator’ but did not throw punch, court told

A man charged over a violent brawl that resulted in another man’s death is alleged to have been the main agitator before the fatal fight unfolded, a court has been told.

Michael Trevor Royce Collins and his co-accused Harley James Raithby Hoodless are facing a range of charges, including unlawful striking causing death, following an altercation in November last year that led to Shannon Finemore being killed.

During Mr Collins’ bail application on Tuesday, Brisbane Supreme Court was told it was not alleged he threw the punch during the fatal incident.

On Tuesday Tom O’Brien, acting for the Director of Public Prosecutions, told the court Mr Hoodless was alleged to have struck Mr Finemore during the fight.

Police allege Mr Finemore was critically injured after being struck in the head about 9pm in Fortitude Valley on November 3, 2020.

He died in hospital a week later.

He said Mr Collins was the “principal agitator” as he took offence to an “exchange of words” with Mr Finemore and his friend.

“(He) made the decision to confront the deceased and his friend on the street,” Mr O’Brien said.

“There are many eyewitnesses who described both conjointly as being substantially more aggravated than the deceased victim and his friend.”

Mr O’Brien said Mr Collins armed himself with a crowbar from his garage before the fight, but it was not used.

The court was told Mr Collins was granted bail on previous charges in November last year, but he was remanded in custody when police upgraded the men’s charges upon Mr Finemore’s death.

The initial police response to an alleged brutal Fortitude Valley bashing has been captured on camera. FOOTAGE: Tristian Andre

In opposing bail, he said Mr Collins had a history of anti-social and violent behaviour while heavily intoxicated.

Mr O’Brien said it would be open to a jury to conclude whether the accused men had an intention to inflict violence during the fight.

Defence lawyer Cassandra Oswald said the “common purpose” was still in contention as it was not clear whether the pair wanted to fight or scare the two people on the street.

Ms Oswald said her client attempted to withdraw from the fight but it was not captured on the motion-activated CCTV footage.

She said some of Mr Collins’ bail conditions included a curfew and random testing.

But Justice Helen Bowskill refused bail, noting Mr Collins had not been compliant with past court orders.