Brothers guilty of stabbing death in tourist precinct

Jarod James Miller was found not guilty over Raymond Harris's death but two brothers were convicted. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)

Two brothers have hugged each other in the dock after being found guilty over their roles in the stabbing death of a man at a busy tourist precinct.

Jye Sebastian Webb-Italia, 22, had pleaded not guilty in Brisbane Supreme Court to the murder of Raymond Harris at Surfers Paradise on September 23, 2020.

Webb-Italia pleaded guilty to the alternative charge of manslaughter, which the prosecution did not accept.

Mr Harris - a 27-year-old father - died from Webb-Italia stabbing him in the stomach when one group of men charged at another on the footpath outside a pub on the Cavill Avenue tourist precinct about 9pm.

Webb-Italia's brother Kyle Jack Webb, as well as Jarod James Miller, pleaded not guilty to murder by aiding to kill Mr Harris.

A jury on Monday found Webb-Italia guilty of murder and Webb guilty of manslaughter after deliberating for about five hours.

Miller was found not guilty of both murder and manslaughter.

Mr Harris's family and friends in the public gallery held hands and gasped as the verdicts were read out.

Webb-Italia's supporters in the public gallery cried out and started sobbing.

After the verdicts were handed down, Justice Ann Lyons said she wanted to recognise the passers-by who stopped to help Mr Harris as he lay dying in the street, as well as the paramedics who attended the scene.

In her closing address last week, crown prosecutor Elizabeth Kelso said Webb had not shown surprise or hesitation when his brother stabbed Mr Harris.

"They acted effectively as a pack," Ms Kelso said.

The jury was shown footage from several security cameras that captured the stabbing amid people visiting a nearby convenience store and ice cream parlour.

The jury earlier heard Mr Harris had accused Webb of associating with a man known only as "Chaos", who had repeatedly robbed Mr Harris and his friends.

Ms Kelso said Webb-Italia took a large knife with him to confront Mr Harris, who was unarmed.

"The very first thing (Webb-Italia) does is plunge a knife into his stomach," she said.

Miller's barrister Andrew Hoare said there was evidence disproving his clients had prior knowledge of, or participation in, any plan to kill Mr Harris.

Webb-Italia and Webb were scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday.

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store