Police analyse mobile phone for brief of evidence in Caleb Rutherford muder case

Police have taken the next step in the case against an Ingham man accused of the stabbing death of a young NQ man.

Police have taken the next step in the case against an Ingham man accused of the stabbing death of a young NQ man.

Josh Hyde, 20, was walking home with two friends on January 10, 2021 when he was fatally stabbed.

Ingham man, Caleb William Rutherford, was charged with his murder.

Police allege Rutherford spent three days on the run after the alleged murder, before he was remanded in custody.

Rutherford is facing a count of murder and 20 additional but unrelated charges including weapons and drug possession, stealing, and breach of bail condition.

Some of the charges date between 2018 to 2021.

In Townsville Magistrates Court on Friday, police prosecutor Kellie Mythen told the court that the brief of evidence for Rutherford’s murder charge was “partially completed”.

The outstanding details included an analysis of Rutherford’s mobile phone, which had been analysed and downloaded.

“(The officer) just needs to go through that and add anything to the brief,” Ms Mythen said.

She told Magistrate Ken Taylor the brief was estimated to be finished by September 30.

Caleb Rutherford.

She said that further disclosure regarding the case would be made available to Rutherford’s lawyer by Friday afternoon.

Rutherford was remanded in custody.

His matter will return to court on October 7, with his appearance excused.

Last year the matter faced a roadblock because of border restrictions put in place over the Covid-19 pandemic.

At an earlier court appearance, Rutherford’s legal team told the court he was intending to fight the charge.

Originally published as Police analyse mobile phone for brief of evidence in Caleb Rutherford muder case