Cairns crime: Shaun Charles Murphy charged with kidnapping 11-year-old boy in carjacking

A man allegedly jumped into a parked car with a woman and a boy and threatened to slit the child’s throat, a Cairns court heard on Tuesday.

A MAN who allegedly carjacked a vehicle with a woman and an 11-year-old child in it was remanded in custody after appearing via video link from Cairns watch house at Cairns Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Shaun Charles Murphy, 44, was arrested after being charged with kidnapping, going armed to cause fear, enter premises with intent, and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Police Prosecutor Senior Constable David Coleman alleged the man approached a Manunda woman and child in a parked car on McLeod St at about 5.30pm last Wednesday.

Police allege Mr Murphy got into the back seat of the car and demanded the woman drive him.

She refused and he threatened her and the boy, and she negotiated to drop her child off first.

As the woman did so, she too got out of the car, and Mr Murphy made off with the car.

Opposing bail, Snr Const Coleman said Mr Murphy had a nine page criminal history and the risk of him further endangering the community was too high.

“The level of violent threat is high, he was allegedly in possession of a knife,” Snr Const Coleman said.

“An 11-year-old child was involved in action that amounted to kidnapping.”

Duty lawyer Kevin Debonis said there was no evidence Mr Murphy had a knife and his client had a very different version of events.

“He knew the child, he knows the child’s mother and father, the child called out to him and he was of the opinion something untoward was happening with the child with the car parked outside the cemetery with music going,” Mr Debonis said.

“He vigorously disputes (the police allegations) and I can’t see the facts that make up a kidnap charge.”

But prosecutor Sophie Gorrick said Mr Murphy had allegedly threatened to slit the child’s throat.

“Why would a care worker lie – the child will give a statement, he was threatened he’d have his throat slit, if the child sees him it would be extremely damaging,” she said.

“It’s going to come down to what the child says, it would have been extremely petrifying if the allegations are correct.”

Police also alleged on Monday morning, Mr Murphy produced a knife and threatened a 38-year-old man in McLeod St, Cairns North.

He demanded the other man hand over his mobile phone before slashing the man’s bike tyre and riding off on a bicycle.

Mr Murphy returned moments later and yelled threats until security staff arrived, police were called, and the Mr Murphy was arrested.

The case was adjourned to August 3.

Originally published as Cairns crime: Shaun Charles Murphy charged with kidnapping 11-year-old boy in carjacking