Police investigating new details of grisly alleged circular saw murder
New details have emerged as to why a Far North fruit picker was allegedly asked to cut off the leg of a 66-year-old man in a bloody crime that has stunned the Innisfail community.
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UPDATE: New revelations have emerged as to why a Far North fruit picker was allegedly asked to cut off the leg of a 66-year-old man in a bloody crime that has stunned the Innisfail community.
It comes as colleagues and acquaintances of murder accused, John Yalu, described him as a quiet and generous man who had arrived in Australia from Vanuatu to pick fruit.
It can be revealed police are investigating whether the victim of the “devastating” and “tragic” crime paid the man to sever his leg because he was suffering from a painful foot ailment.
Mr Yalu, 36, was charged with murder and is currently behind bars on remand.
Detective Acting Inspector Gary Hunter said police will allege the deceased man paid $5000 to have his leg amputated by Mr Yalu, with a circular saw, after both men arrived at a park on Fitzgerald Esplanade early Saturday morning.
The saw used in the grisly surgery was owned by the dead man, with the accused allegedly cutting off the limb below the knee.
The amputated leg is currently with police and “is forming part of the evidentiary process”, according to Det Act Insp Hunter.
The man was found dead in front of an Innisfail fish and chip shop, with two pedestrians making the discovery.
He died while in the company of the pair prior to emergency services arriving.
The matter has been adjourned to June 6.
EARLIER: Police have confirmed they will allege a man’s leg was fully amputated with a circular saw after two Innisfail men allegedly entered into a grisly “arrangement” that went horribly wrong.
At first light on Saturday police set up a crime scene on Fitzgerald Esplanade after a 66-year-old man was found by passers-by in the street.
He was pronounced dead when emergency services arrived.
Earlier on Sunday morning, detectives charged a 36-year-old Innisfail man with murder.
Detective Acting Inspector Gary Hunter said police will allege both men arrived at a park before the younger man took a saw owned by the dead man and proceeded to remove the leg below the knee.
“A male person has commenced to saw the deceased person’s leg off using a circular saw,” Det Insp Hunter said.
“A short time later, the male person, the (alleged) offender in this matter, assisted the deceased person who is 66-years of age and retired to the vehicle and a short time later has left the area on foot.
“Police will allege these two people were known to each other, the nature of that relationship is forming part of our investigations.
“Police also believe there was an arrangement between the two people for the amputation of the leg.”
Police are in possession of the detached leg but couldn’t confirm where the body part was located.
Det Insp Hunter could not speculate on whether drugs were involved or offer detail about the exact nature of the arrangement entered into by the two men.
Describing the alleged incident as a “devastating time and tragic circumstance” for the community, Det Insp Hunter said police had been appointed a family liaison officer who was briefing the family on the police investigation.
“Obviously they are upset with what’s occurred and it’s totally unexpected,” he said.
“During my 34 years as a police officer I’ve never experienced a situation as we are presented with here today.”
The man charged with murder will appear at the Innisfail Magistrates Court on Monday.
Police continue to appeal for anyone who has knowledge of this incident or has relevant dashcam or CCTV footage to come forward and quote this reference number: QP2200293718.
READ MORE FROM THE CASSOWARY COAST
SUNDAY UPDATE: Innisfail police have laid a murder charge after alleging a man has used a battery powered circular saw to cut other man’s leg off.
Police allege at 3.48am on Saturday two men have driven to Fitzgerald Park, Innisfail, before getting out of the car to sit under a tree in the park.
About twenty minutes later according to police, a 36-year-old man allegedly used the saw to cut the other man’s leg off below the knee.
The 36-year-old then assisted the other man back to the car before leaving the area on foot.
At 4.23am a member of the public has located the injured man and called emergency services.
The injured 66-year-old Innisfail man died a short time later.
READ MORE FROM THE CASSOWARY COAST
The 36-year-old Innisfail man was located by police around midday at a Innisfail residence and was charged with one count of murder.
He will appear at the Innisfail Magistrates Court on Monday.
Police continue to appeal for anyone who has knowledge of this incident or has relevant dashcam or CCTV footage to come forward and quote this reference number: QP2200293718.
UPDATE, 2.45PM: One man is in custody as police attempt to unravel the circumstances behind the horrific death of a 66-year-old man in Innisfail on Saturday morning.
Detective Acting Inspector Gary Hunter said police will allege the local man was found dead in parklands off Fitzgerald Esplanade at about 4am this morning.
“The man had suffered horrific leg injuries and was found at the scene before paramedics could attend and provide first aid,” Det Insp Hunter said.
“At this stage we’re uncertain how he received the actual injuries, and that’s forming part of our investigation.
“Police believe the injuries sustained are of a suspicious nature and in fact currently have an Innisfail man in custody, who is assisting us with our inquiries.”
Det Insp Hunter said CCTV had helped them identify the person of interest, and that preliminary inquiries had led them to a home in Innisfail, where they took the man into custody.
No charges have been laid.
He said the ongoing investigation was “complex” and police were trying to establish the relationship between the two men.
“What we can say that this is a … this is not a random attack,” he said.
Police are in the very preliminary stages of the investigation and are requesting anyone who was driving around Fitzgerald Esplanade at 4am this morning who may have seen something or who may have dashcam footage to contact the Innisfail Police Station.
Two crime scenes have been established, and Det Insp Hunter said officers were currently examining the dead man’s motor vehicle for clues.
“We are hoping to find some evidence within the vehicle that will provide us with some further information and progress our investigation,” he said.
Det Insp Hunter said two people were walking along Fitzgerald Esplanade on Saturday morning around 4am when they found the 66-year-old unconscious, near his vehicle, and alerted authorities.
“So both police and the ambulance attended. Unfortunately the male person was pronounced deceased at the scene,” Det Insp Hunter said.
MORE CASSOWARY COAST NEWS: Jury returns verdict in Innisfail manslaughter trial
EARLIER, 12.30PM: Two separate crime scenes at a Cassowary Coast town have been taped off as police investigate circumstances that led to the death of a man early this morning.
A police command centre has been set up on Fitzgerald Esplanade, Innisfail, after the dead man was found at 4.15am.
Crime scene tape can be seen across a shaded picnic table area south of where the dead man was found.
Access to a second area at Jack Fossey Park, understood to be connected to the man’s death, has been restricted by police.
READ MORE: Police reveal of outcome of Mena Creek fatal dog attack investigation
The deceased man remains at the scene and has been covered by a tarpaulin, just north of the Grace St roundabout.
The man is understood to have been aged in his mid-30s.
Michael Long from Tully was shocked to hear of the man’s death when arriving in town to do some shopping this morning.
“At this stage I don’t know what’s going on (and I’m) a bit surprised being a small town,” he said.
Police have confirmed the death as being suspicious, Detective Inspector Gary Hunter is expected to provide details at 2pm.
EARLIER: Police have cordoned off a section a riverside street and declared a crime scene south of Cairns after a man was found dead early this morning.
Officers converged on Fitzgerald Esplanade, Innisfail in the vicinity of Innisfail Seafoods after discovering the man at 4.30am.
Police said it’s likely the death would be considered suspicious.
“Why he is deceased and how he came to be deceased we are trying to figure out,” a spokesman said.
“Police have declared a crime scene after a man was found at 4.30am.”
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