Australian man cleared of murdering woman on first Tinder date

An Australian man has been acquitted of murdering a woman on their first date after they connected on the Tinder app.

Gable Tostee, 30, was charged with murder after Warriena Wright, 26, fell from the balcony of his apartment in Queensland's Gold Coast in August, 2014.

Prosecutors alleged that Ms Wright was so intimidated by Mr Tostee that she attempted to escape by climbing from his balcony but fell.

Defence lawyers claim Mr Tostee used reasonable force to restrain Ms Wright after she became violent and erratic after several hours drinking.

The jury found him not guilty of murder and manslaughter after four days of deliberation.

Defence lawyer Nick Dore said outside the court that his client was "relieved this matter is now behind him and he's looking forward to moving on with his life".

Mr Tostee and Ms Wright connected on the dating app Tinder and exchanged messages before meeting in person for the first time on 7 August in the coastal resort Surfers Paradise.

Later that evening Ms Wright fell to her death from Mr Tostee's 14th storey balcony.

A key piece of evidence in the trial was a 199-minute recording made by Mr Tostee on which Ms Wright can be heard pleading to be allowed to leave the apartment.

Prosecution lawyers alleged the recording showed Mr Tostee's guilt, while the defence claimed it showed his innocence.

On the recording Mr Tostee can he heard claiming that Ms Wright has tried to attack him and threw ornamental rocks at him.

Ms Wright, locked on the balcony, pleads to be allowed to go home in the recording.