Lawyer Peta Vernon said the 43-year-old man was born and bred in Proserpine but had been living in Maryborough for the past eight years.
Ms Vernon told the court Brown had been in and out of jail but moved back to the Whitsunday region around the time of the offence and his partner broke up with him, so he went on a bender.
The court heard the man had not slept for six days before he was found with the knife and pillow case.
Ms Vernon said Brown had an argument with someone at the pub, who made a threat to harm Brown’s nephew.