Accused housemate 'not the aggressor'

A man accused of killing his housemate in a violent argument suffered defensive wounds in the fight and wasn't the aggressor, a Brisbane court has heard.

Aaron Llewellyn Jones, 28, is accused of the manslaughter of his 30-year-old flatmate, Joel Russell Charlesworth, at a Murarrie home just before midnight on Saturday.

Jones fronted the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday, looking tense and emotional.

It will be alleged he put Mr Charlesworth in a headlock at least twice before he developed breathing problems and died.

But Jones's lawyer, Tim Clements, said his client had suffered significant defensive injuries including a torn ear lobe, and injuries to his forehead and limbs.

"He has ... played perhaps a role that can be described as a pacifier ... and in my submission is not the one who was the aggressor," Mr Clements told the court.

He said Jones's girlfriend had witnessed the fight and had backed up the accused's version of events.

Mr Clements said Jones had no criminal history or mental health problems and posed no danger to the wider community.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Leanne O'Shea remanded Jones in custody so he could undergo a mental health check, and to give the victim's family time to recover from their shock.

"Something extremely bad has happened and he may feel responsible for it as well," she said.

"I would imagine any person involved in that sort of event will have serious impacts on their own mental health."

The case will return to court on Tuesday when a bail application is expected to be heard.