18 Dec 2016

Coroner considers Tostee investigation

11:16 am on 18 December 2016

Queensland's Coroner is set to decide whether to hold an inquest into New Zealand woman Warriena Wright's death on the Gold Coast last year.

Warriena Wright and Gale Tostee

Warriena Wright and Gale Tostee Photo: Supplied

The Coroner is looking into the investigation of her death after a trial in October found Gable Tostee not guilty of murder and manslaughter.

Mr Tostee, 30, was accused of killing Ms Wright, 26, after the two met via the dating app Tinder on the Gold Coast in early August 2014.

Gable Tostee and one of his lawyers leaves the courthouse after being found not guilty of murder and manslaughter.

Gable Tostee and one of his lawyers leaves the courthouse after the trial. Photo: Screenshot / 9News

Ms Wright died after falling 14 floors from the balcony of his Surfers Paradise apartment. It emerged that Mr Tostee had restrained Ms Wright and locked her on the balcony after an altercation between the two.

The Crown argued Ms Wright had felt so intimidated by the unreasonable use of force she had died trying to escape, while Mr Tostee's defence lawyers argued her actions were not foreseeable and he had acted lawfully to defend himself.

Gable Tostee and Warriena Wright just hours before the New Zealand tourist plummeted to her death.

Gable Tostee and Warriena Wright just hours before the New Zealand tourist plummeted to her death. Photo: Supplied / Queensland Police

Mr Tostee secretly recorded some of their date on his phone about an hour before Ms Wright's death, and the recording was a key piece of evidence in the trial.

The jury deliberated for four days before coming to a decision.

The Coroner's office told Australian media it was reviewing the case.

A coroner cannot hold an inquest while criminal proceedings are under way.

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