Man pleads guilty to manslaughter in leg amputation trial

A man who allegedly amputated a 66-year-old's leg in a public park has pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the start of his murder trial.

John Yalu, 41, is accused of cutting off the leg of Innisfail man Kalman Tal in February 2022, which allegedly resulted in Mr Tal's death.

The incident allegedly happened at a park in the Far North Queensland town, about an hour south of Cairns.

Mr Yalu is charged with murder and is standing trial in the Supreme Court in Cairns.

During his arraignment at the start of the trial, Mr Yalu pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty of manslaughter.

The former farm worker, a Vanuatu national, entered his plea through an interpreter, who has been sworn in to help Mr Yalu follow proceedings in his native language, Bislama.

The court heard a list of witnesses who would be called to give evidence, including a farm worker who saw Mr Yalu and Mr Tal together and a woman who had spent some time with Mr Yalu on the night of the alleged amputation.

Other listed witnesses include a forensic pathologist, a seasonal worker coordinator and police officers involved in the investigation.

A jury of six men and six women, plus two male reserves, was empanelled for the trial, which is expected to run for seven days.

Focus on accused's 'state of mind'

Justice Jim Henry warned jurors the court would be shown "confronting" and "graphic" video footage during the trial.

Justice Henry told the jury that to find Mr Yalu guilty of murder, they would need to be satisfied he caused Mr Tal's death and that he intended to kill Mr Tal or cause him grievous bodily harm.

"The difference between murder and manslaughter is that added element of intention, a mental element," he said.

Justice Henry told the jury Mr Yalu's guilty plea to manslaughter suggested the trial would not focus on the cause or lawfulness of Mr Tal's death.

"Instead, the focus is going to be upon [Mr Yalu's] state of mind," Justice Henry said.

Justice Henry said the trial would take more frequent breaks than usual "because the interpreter is working at a very high level of concentration".

Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald and defence barrister Jacob Kantor are expected to give their opening addresses to the jury when the trial resumes tomorrow.