Court hears new details in case of man accused of killing alleged ‘sex pest’
The case against a Qld man, who police allege bludgeoned to death another man he recognised from an untested social media post about behaviour towards teenage girls, has returned to court.
Fresh details have emerged in the case against the man accused of bludgeoning to death another man who he recognised from a wild post on social media.
Hervey Bay man Michael James Vella is charged with the murder of Karn Bauer, 40, who died after collapsing in a yard shortly after he was allegedly beaten with a bat on October 9 at Torquay.
Police allege a group of men including Mr Vella, went to Mr Bauer’s house on October 9 for another purpose before the Pialba man was recognised from a photo and post on Facebook.
The post contained untested claims Mr Bauer had been giving girls weird looks, trying to look up their skirts and had grabbed a teenager’s bottom in the Hervey Bay area.
Police said Mr Bauer was found by ambulance crews nearby at Torquay Terrace after he fled the alleged attack and died at the scene while being treated by QAS.
Mr Vella’s case was mentioned in Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Thursday.
His solicitor appeared on his behalf and requested an adjournment to the middle of February 2026.
Magistrate Trinity McGarvie mentioned that a fresh charge had been transferred to the Hervey Bay Magistrates Court Thursday morning against Mr Vella.
“I wasn’t aware of that,” Mr Vella’s solicitor said.
It is understood the charge is related to a notice to appear on October 11, two days after the death of Mr Bauer.
“Any application for bail?” Magistrate McGarvie asked.
“No application for bail obviously Your Honour,” the solicitor replied.
It was further revealed that a brief of evidence may not be ready until March 2026.
The unprecedented response to the murder charge included a petition to keep Mr Vella “out of jail” with some sympathisers even trying to organise funds to be sent to him while he was in custody on remand.
However, Detective Inspector Craig Mansfield told reporters there was no evidence to suggest Mr Bauer was a pedophile, as he had been labelled on social media, even after his death, but they were aware of the post, and it was an aspect of the investigation.
The case was adjourned for committal mention to 9am on February 19, 2026.
No pleas have been entered.
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Originally published as Court hears new details in case of man accused of killing alleged ‘sex pest’
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