Murder accused Michael Kurt Pringle refused bail

A teenager allegedly murdered by his partner was subjected to a lengthy attack in which he tried to defend himself before receiving a fatal blow to his head, a court heard.

Michael Kurt Pringle was charged with murder after his girlfriend Krystle Monks died in Ipswich in 2023.

Pringle, who was 21 at the time of the crime, had his bail application rejected by Judge Scott McLeod in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Krystle Monks is remembered as a “loving, kind and compassionate soul.”Nine News

The court heard Monks, 18, died in hospital the day after the alleged attack.

Crown prosecutor Nathan Crane told the court Monk suffered multiple injuries.

“There is an injury to the right side of the head and there is a blunt force injury to the left side of the head,” he said.

“There are still a number of injuries to the upper arms, wrists and even fingers, indicating a prolonged attack.”

He said these injuries, which were defensive, were a circumstantial feature indicating intent in the protracted attack.

“Arms, upper arms, forearms, wrists, fingers, all areas with bruising… is someone who has received multiple blows but has the ability to successfully deflect them until a serious blunt force trauma injury occurs to the head, ultimately causing the death of a person.” [Monks]said Crane.

In applying for Pringle’s release, Legal Aid Queensland lawyer Joseph Briggs told the court there was no direct or visible evidence of what could be described as a sustained assault on the night in question.

He said Pringle would be subject to a number of monitoring conditions if released from custody.

Briggs told the court Pringle was not a flight risk because he would be living with his sister in Ipswich and would have nowhere else to go.

The court heard that Pringle had been detained since his arrest in 2023, and although he had a job in Richlands before the alleged murder, he would receive benefits if released while he looked for work.

Briggs said his client voluntarily offered to speak to police without a lawyer after his arrest.

In making his decision, McLeod accepted the prosecution’s argument that there was a risk that Pringle would not appear at trial and that the proposed conditions would not mitigate the risks.

McLeod said Pringle was also found guilty of breaching bail by failing to report.

McLeod refused bail. Pringle’s case is still in court.

Support is available from: National Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence Counseling Service From (1800RESPECT) 1800 737 732.

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