Briana Faye Thorne: Woman, 32, charged with manslaughter over death of partner Merlin Smith

Emotions boiled over after a 32-year-old woman faced court charged with the manslaughter of her partner, with a fight breaking out among members of the accused killer’s family. Briana Faye Thorne briefly appeared in the Joondalup Magistrates Court on Monday charged with unlawfully killing her partner, Merlin Steve Smith, in Jindalee on Saturday. Wearing a blue jumper, Ms Thorne was tearful in the dock and spoke only to confirm her name and nodded that she understood the charge. Police say Mr Smith was found unresponsive near a silver Mitsubishi Outlander on Marmion Avenue, Jindalee at about 5.40pm on Saturday. The vehicle was allegedly captured by security video on Carmathen Avenue at 5.26pm, pulling up outside a home before quickly reversing back towards Marmion Ave. But he could not be revived and died. Ms Thorne — who was represented in court on Monday by a duty lawyer — did not apply for bail and was not required to plea. She was remanded in custody to face the Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on December 18. Ms Thorne was crying in the courtroom with her mother, who attended the hearing, also beginning to sob when she saw her daughter. Outside court a fight broke out among members of Ms Thorne’s family, with one woman yelling, “he was a good boy with a good heart”. “I’m sorry and we are grieving,” Ms Thorne’s mother Timi Wai told media outside court. “We miss him. We love him. “It’s hard for us too so please let’s just support each other.” Jindalee residents said they heard arguing before Mr Smith’s death on Saturday. “There was a lot of screaming. It sounds like someone was pissed off with the other person,” a resident told 7NEWS. “I was watching him. Watching him dying. It was just distressing.” Tributes were left at the scene on Sunday, with a woman laying flowers and a man who arrived on a scooter — with his face covered — spray painting “rest in peace” on a nearby wall. “Had a heart of gold and only had love to give no matter what, this was all sudden and unexpected and has left so many people heartbroken,” one friend said. “Rest in peace brother. Pleasure having known you. God bless,” Rick Cool said. A GoFundMe has since been set up to cover Mr Smith’s funeral costs. “My beloved brother, Merlin Smith’s life was tragically cut short at the young age of 33,” Mr Smith’s brother said on the fundraising page. “As his death was sudden, my family and I are reaching out for any contributions to assist towards the funeral costs so we can give him the send off that he would appreciate.” Police are calling for anyone in the vicinity of Marmion Ave in Jindalee between 5.15pm and 6.16pm on Saturday, who saw the incident, or has any information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via www.crimestopperswa.com.au 1800RESPECT