Cairns courts: Murder accused John Yalu case adjourned to December 19

The case of an Innisfail fruit picker charged with murder by amputating a man’s leg with a saw continued in Innisfail Magistrates Court on Monday.

A MAN charged with murder after allegedly sawing off the leg of another man has had his case further delayed following a mention in Innisfail Magistrates Court on Monday.

John Yalu, 36 has been in custody since the incident on February 19 when he allegedly cut off Innisfail grandfather Kalman Tal’s leg.

Prosecutor Sergeant Christie Mahoney told Magistrate Megan Power a brief of evidence was ready for Mr Yalu’s solicitor to collect, except for pathology reports due later this week.

John Yalu, 36, was charged with murder following the suspicious death of an Innisfail man - Photo: supplied.

The court attempted to contact Mr Yalu’s lawyer Michael Rodriguez, of Melbourne firm Forbes, Reichman and Galasso, on both his mobile and the firm’s landline, but got no answer.

“I need to let him know he needs to make arrangements to collect the brief,” Sgt Mahoney said.

Magistrate Power adjourned the matter to December 19 to enable Mr Yalu’s lawyer to arrange to receive the brief and take instructions from his client.

Police have alleged that at 3.48am the two men drove together to Fitzgerald Park at Innisfail, where they sat under a tree in the park for about 20 minutes before Mr Yalu used a circular saw to cut Mr Tal’s leg off at the knee.

Innisfail grandfather Kalman Tal, who died in Innisfail after allegedly having his leg amputated. Photo: supplied.

Police allege Mr Yalu, a Vanuatuan fruit picker, assisted him back to the car, and left the area on foot.

Mr Tal, who was 66, was found by a member of the public at 4.23am and an ambulance was called.

He died a short time later.

Police allege Mr Tal offered Mr Yalu $5000 to amputate his leg.

It is understood police are probing whether Mr Tal suffered from a rare medical condition that made him feel compelled to have a body part removed.

Mr Tal’s son Filip Tal launched a GoFundMe fundraiser on the site’s funerals and memorials section.

It raised $3,385.

Originally published as Cairns courts: Murder accused John Yalu case adjourned to December 19