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Damian Kyle Beckerleg tells court he did not mean to kill James Reimers with samurai sword

By Zoe Keenan and Georgia Loney
A man with sunglasses on holding a fish.
Prosecutors say James Reimers had spent the day fishing with his friend before he was killed.(Facebook)
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A 44-year-old man on trial for murder has told the Bunbury Supreme Court he feared for his and his family's life when he repeatedly stabbed his life-long friend with a samurai sword.

Damian Kyle Beckerleg pleaded not guilty to murder but admitted to killing James Shane Reimers, 43, after a day's fishing and drinking in Eaton, Western Australia, in May 2020.

He said he did not intend to kill his friend, but "immobilise him" after Mr Reimers attacked him twice.

Mr Beckerleg wept while he told the jury he thought he was going to die when his friend lunged at him and began choking, punching, and threatening to kill him while they were out fishing.

The court heard Mr Reimers arrived at Mr Beckerleg's home that night and attacked him in front of his partner and step-children, but left after Mr Beckerleg stabbed him with an arrow.

Mr Beckerleg said he told his family to call police for help and then grabbed a display samurai sword and went after his friend, who was lying on the street outside his house.

"I was distraught … confused … I felt violated and terrified him," Mr Beckerleg said while being questioned by defence lawyer Simon Freitag.

He said he wanted to "immobilise" rather than kill Mr Reimers so he could "not hurt anyone again".

A street sign saying Cleveland Bay Av, with houses in the background
The attack occurred on a suburban street in Eaton, WA.(ABC South West: Jackson Worthington)

Accused quizzed about message

Prosecutor Brett Tooker questioned Mr Beckerleg about his claim that he had "no idea" why his friend had attacked him while out fishing.

He read a phone message sent by Mr Reimers on the night of the fatal attack that referred to knowing "the truth" and that he was "going to tell her the truth … and your world is going to come down." 

Mr Beckerleg maintained he had no idea what his friend was referring to and insisted to Mr Tooker if he knew, "I would tell you".

Mr Tooker put it to Mr Beckerleg that he intended to kill Mr Reimers and that he was acting in a "blind rage", when he attacked his friend.

"Why not wait for the police?" he asked, suggesting that Mr Beckerleg could have barricaded himself inside the house.

"I have no idea," Mr Beckerleg responded, but maintained he had not intended to kill his friend.

Closing arguments in the trial, presided over by Justice Joseph McGrath, are set to begin this week.