Accused killer Mark Waden told police he was 'happy she was gone' when his former partner Priscilla Brooten disappeared without a trace, describing the relationship as toxic. The jury in his murder trial heard the recorded interview on Wednesday.
Police Interview Reveals Details
During the June 2019 interview, which took place more than a year after the former American beauty queen vanished from the Bracken Ridge property they shared, detectives informed Mr Waden they were investigating Ms Brooten's alleged murder. 'Murder?' he responded.
Mr Waden told detectives he met Ms Brooten through one of his Zumba classes in late 2016 before the pair began a relationship. 'There was a connection between us and it just evolved from there,' he said.
He described the relationship as marked by 'very good times, very bad times' and said the couple had been arguing regularly towards the end. Mr Waden claimed Ms Brooten suffered from significant mental health issues, had a secretive past, and was communicating with people he did not know. 'She had a very, very secretive life, very closed … it was very difficult to extract her past from her,' he told detectives.
He also said he feared repercussions because he knew she was living in Australia unlawfully. 'I threatened to call immigration and that's when she left,' he said. He claimed Ms Brooten moved out while he was at work and that when he returned home her car, clothes and suitcases were gone.
The former Zumba instructor said he never heard from her again and admitted he later portrayed her negatively to friends and members of the fitness community. 'I was hurt … I was upset and angry with Priscilla and the relationship ended badly,' he said. 'I didn't probe any further because I was happy she was gone.'
Prosecution Case
Prosecutors allege Mr Waden murdered Ms Brooten on July 5, 2018, concealed her body at the Bracken Ridge property, and later removed her remains before police searches could locate them. The Crown alleges Ms Brooten discovered evidence of Mr Waden's affair with a younger colleague on July 5, sparking a confrontation before she was murdered.
The interview also focused on repeated arguments between the couple, including a major dispute on June 30, 2018, less than a week before prosecutors allege Ms Brooten was murdered. 'Priscilla and I had a massive argument on the Friday night, it continued through the night and into the morning,' he said.
While denying any pattern of physical violence, Mr Waden acknowledged there were occasions where he restrained Ms Brooten during heated confrontations and admitted: 'I slapped her on one instance.'
Detectives challenged Mr Waden about phone records showing extensive contact between the pair up until July 5, 2018, before communications abruptly stopped. When asked what he was doing on July 6, the day after prosecutors allege Ms Brooten was killed, he replied: 'I don't remember what I was doing that day.'
Defence Argument
The defence argues there is no body, no forensic evidence proving murder, and no direct evidence linking Mark Waden to Ms Brooten's death. When Mr Waden requested a lawyer at the end of the interview, police told him he was being arrested for Ms Brooten's murder. He sat in silence before officers asked if he understood. 'Yeah, I didn't do it,' he replied. He was released without charge that day, before being arrested again and formally charged days later.
Police Investigation
The jury also heard further details of the police investigation. Prosecutors contend Mr Waden arranged urgent excavation works at his Bracken Ridge home the following day and later concealed her body in a trench beside the driveway. Police attended the property in May 2019 and photographed a patch of grass near the excavation site. The following day, investigators' suspicions were heightened after further digging occurred at the property and Mr Waden made trips to the Nudgee waste facility.
Senior Constable Anthea Johnston said investigators eventually excavated parts of the property. The court was told forensic officers collected soil samples from the area where earthworks had been carried out. However, under cross-examination, Senior Constable Johnston agreed there was no direct evidence of Ms Brooten's body at the property. 'There is no evidence whatsoever that he dumped Priscilla Brooten's body at the Nudgee Transfer Centre, is there?' defence barrister Angus Edwards asked. 'Correct,' Ms Johnston replied.
The trial continues.
