<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A man charged with </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/murder" rel="" target="" title="murder"><span>murder</span></a><span> after a fatal stabbing at his front door angrily told police they were trying to jail him for defending himself, a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/court" rel="" target="" title="jury"><span>jury</span></a><span> has heard.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Robert Noel Rogers, 52, is on trial in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/brisbane" rel="" target="" title="Brisbane"><span>Brisbane</span></a><span> Supreme Court for the murder of Raymond Scopelitis on August 16, 2021.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mr Scopelitis, 32, died just before midnight from massive blood loss on the street outside Rogers' home at Nambour, on </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/queensland" rel="" target="" title="Queensland"><span>Queensland</span></a><span>'s </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/sunshine-coast" rel="" target="" title="Sunshine Coast"><span>Sunshine Coast</span></a><span>, despite paramedics fighting to save his life.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/videos/national/residents-raise-concerns-over-flood-maps/cmnh83pkw002l0hur1zg7xb0m"><strong><span>Residents raise concerns over flood maps</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The jury on Thursday was read a police statement from the hours after Mr Scopelitis died in which Rogers denied any knowledge of a serious assault or murder at his block of units.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A video of Rogers yelling and at times swearing at police during an interview after he was charged with murder a day later was also shown to the jury.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It was not a murder. He came and had a go at me with a large knife and I was defending myself," Rogers told detectives.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/sunshine-coast-murder-accused-attacked-by-man-with-knife-jury-told/c64a68fb-a375-4505-817c-b1aa05fe5740" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That is not how this country should work. If someone attacks you with a knife you should be able to get off on self-defence."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Rogers told police Mr Scopelitis had travelled from Noosa, nearly 50km away, to start the confrontation and had brought either a large knife or small machete and another man with him.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I'm the innocent party. They came and tried to get into my house with a f***ing machete," Rogers said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I'm getting charged with murder. It's not right, mate. Now I'm going to jail for life."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Rogers had woken about 11.30pm and heard Mr Scopelitis banging on the front door of his unit demanding repayment of a $500 debt.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mr Scopelitis died from losing two litres of blood after being stabbed and slashed in the chest with his own knife that he had brandished in front of Rogers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>During the video shown to the jury, Rogers told police he knocked the knife out of Mr Scopelitis's hand, and punched and kicked him once or twice while he was lying on the ground.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Rogers said he picked up the knife and "grazed" Mr Scopelitis on he shoulder.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He kept coming at me. That's when I stabbed him," Rogers told police.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Detectives asked Rogers if he had the chance to run away or call for help before Mr Scopelitis was stabbed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I don't know. I wasn't thinking, mate. Have you ever had someone have a go at you with a machete?" Rogers said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The jury also heard Mr Scopelitis had methamphetamine, benzodiazepine, anti-psychotic medication, cannabis and alcohol in his system, according to an autopsy.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The trial is due to resume next week and run for another three days before Justice Declan Kelly.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>