Queensland construction death trial abandoned

A trial for an excavation worker accused of killing a co-worker at a Queensland construction site has been abandoned for counsel to consider further evidence.

Neil Edward Norris was facing trial in Brisbane Supreme Court for the manslaughter of Peter Tullett, who died after being hit in the head by a detached piece of an excavator at Springfield Lakes, near Brisbane, in April 2017.

Prosecutors claimed Norris' failure to attach a safety pin to the vehicle's dipping arm caused a pair of 1.2 tonne shears to fall off and hit Mr Tullett.

He was also accused of attempting to cover up his mistake when he and his boss allegedly reattached the shears correctly before authorities arrived, then lying to investigators about how Mr Tullett was injured.

The jury was discharged and trial aborted on Wednesday, with the matter set aside for review next week as counsel examine evidence not presented to prosecutors before trial.