Shandee Blackburn inquest witness denies making 'stupid' confession

A man has told an inquest into the killing of north Queensland woman Shandee Blackburn he doesn't think he robbed her, or that his friend then fatally stabbed her, but he can't recall details of that night.

Norman Dorante is a key witness at the inquest because an initial police statement made by Mackay man Levii Blackman said Mr Dorante was present when a third man confessed to the murder.

Mr Blackman told police William Daniel approached him with Mr Dorante and confessed while emergency services sirens could still be heard responding to Ms Blackburn's attack in a nearby street on February 9, 2013.

Mr Blackman, who was aged 17 at the time, later said he had been lying to police and on Thursday Mr Daniel denied confessing.

Counsel assisting the coroner John Aberdeen asked Mr Daniel what he thought of the claim that he confessed.

"That sounds f---ing stupid," he told the inquest.

"Never f---ing happened. You've got honesty."

Mr Blackman told police Mr Daniel approached him with another man, Norman Dorante, and confessed while emergency services sirens could still be heard responding to Ms Blackburn's attack in a nearby street.

Mr Daniel said that interaction did not happen. He also said he could not remember the night.

Mr Daniel said he knew Ms Blackburn because they went to the same high school where she was a few grades above him.

Mr Dorante was also questioned, but could not recall details of that night or whether he robbed Ms Blackburn before she was stabbed more than 20 times just metres from her door.

It was put to Mr Dorante - by barrister Craig Eberhardt - that he and Mr Daniel robbed Ms Blackburn and then Mr Daniel killed her.

"I don't think so. I don't know. I can't recall anything," Mr Dorante said.

He admitted he "may have" been robbing drug dealers to fund his use of amphetamines around that time but denied saying "I'm OK because I'm the one who killed her" when his partner asked him to be safe after the murder.

The counsel assisting asked Mr Dorante if he remembered saying someone should step on flowers laid in tribute of Ms Blackburn.

Mr Dorante could not remember saying that.

The inquest, before coroner David O'Connell in Mackay,

heard Mr Dorante declined making a police statement following Ms Blackburn's death.

She was stabbed more than 20 times while walking home from work at the Harrup Park Country Club after midnight on February 9, 2013.

Neither a weapon nor a white bag she was thought to be carrying were ever found.

Mr Eberhardt is representing John Peros, who was tried and acquitted in 2017 of the murder.

The barrister maintained Mr Blackman was not lying in his first statement and insisted on Wednesday there was enough evidence for Mr Daniel to be committed for trial.

Mr Eberhardt said Mr Daniel's alleged confessions to Mr Blackman in the first police statement were corroborated by other evidence including DNA.

The hearing continues.

AAP