‘No winners’ as teenager is found guilty of manslaughter of Balin Stewart on Sunshine Coast 

There are no winners in the ‘brutal’ lawsuit, say the family of 16-year-old Balin Stewart who was stabbed to death outside his home.

They spoke out of court after a teenager – who cannot be named for legal reasons – was acquitted of murder but found guilty of manslaughter after Balin’s death on the Sunshine Coast in January last year.

“We are devastated — no one should have to go through this lawsuit,” Michael Stewart told reporters.

“It’s brutal—it’s the only way I can describe it.”

Mr Stewart said it was devastating to hear about his son’s death over and over during the trial.

There were no winners and hundreds of people were affected.

“Our family is broken… I’m sure his family feels the same,” he added.

Kerri-Lynn Stewart said no verdict would be right, while her husband said the outcome would not bring Balin back.

The teen was 17 when the boys got into a brawl that ended with Balin dying from a single stab wound to the heart from a steak knife with a 12-centimeter blade.

Balin Stewart’s family out of court in Brisbane. Kerri-Lynn Stewart said no verdict would be right, while her husband said the outcome wouldn’t bring Balin back

Attorney General Rebecca Marks argued during the two-week trial that the teen attacked Balin out of jealousy over the younger boy spending time with his ex-girlfriend.

The defendant stabbed Balin with a deliberate movement in one of the most vulnerable parts of the human body immediately after saying he wanted to kill the 16-year-old, Ms Marks told the jury at the start of the trial.

The teen said he drove five minutes to Balin’s house late at night because his ex-girlfriend had sent him provocative videos showing herself and the 16-year-old.

Upon arrival, he asked Balin if he wanted to fight, which led to a confrontation on the grass strip outside Buddina’s home, he said.

The teenager told the court that he hit Balin in response to a punch from the 16-year-old without realizing he had the knife in his hand.

Balin’s mother Kerri-Lynn said that Balin and some friends, including a girl he dated years earlier who had broken up with the defendant about six months earlier, were hanging out on the evening of January 20.

Mrs. Stewart was awakened by the girl banging on the window and yelling for her to come out.

She ran out the front door to find Balin unconscious and the defendant said, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I can’t believe I did that.”

Under cross-examination by attorney Charlotte Smith, Ms Stewart said it was possible the defendant also said ‘I didn’t mean it’.

Crown prosecutor Rebecca Marks argued at the two-week trial that the teen attacked Balin out of jealousy over the younger boy spending time with his ex-girlfriend

Balin was pronounced dead at 11:50 p.m. after his parents, neighbours, police and paramedics attempted to resuscitate him.

The girl, whose name cannot be disclosed for legal reasons, said that she and Balin had decided to make and send to the defendant provocative videos suggesting that they had resumed a relationship.

The teen told the court he was jealous but not furious after receiving the videos and didn’t want to hurt Balin badly.

“I went there specifically to fight,” the defendant told the jury.

He denied telling another witness that he grabbed a steak knife “on a whim,” saying it was “for safety” after being warned that Balin was carrying a knife.

The Brisbane High Court jury found him guilty of manslaughter on Friday afternoon after deliberating for about 14 hours.

The teen was taken into custody and the case will go before Justice Elizabeth Wilson on Wednesday.

He will be sentenced under the Youth Justices Act at a date to be determined.