Innisfail murder case: John Yalu, alleged offender’s matter in first court mention

Friends and neighbours of the farm worker accused of murdering an Innisfail man with a circular saw have spoken of their shock and surprise following his first court mention. Here are the first photos of the farm worker.

FARM workers who shared accommodation with an Innisfail man accused of murdering an acquaintance by cutting off his leg with a circular saw have expressed their shock after his arrest.

John Yalu, 36, charged with murdering a 66-year-old Innisfail man will remain behind bars on remand after his matter was mentioned at the Innisfail Magistrates Court on Monday.

Mr Yalu was arrested on Saturday following a police investigation into the suspicious death of a local man, found on the footpath at Fitzgerald Esplanade, opposite the fire station.

On Sunday, Detective Acting Inspector Gary Hunter said police had charged Mr Yalu with murder.

John Yalu, 36, charged with murder following the suspicious death of an Innisfail man resided at the Innisfail Accommodation Hub on Rankin St.

It is understood Mr Yalu, a banana farm worker, was residing at a Rankin St, Innisfail non-resident accommodation facility.

Neighbouring residents who knew Mr Yalu said he was a fellow Vanuatu national who arrived in Australia on the same plane as them and quarantined with them “around June-July” last year.

John Yalu, 36, was charged with murder following the suspicious death of an Innisfail man. He arrived in Australia mid last year to work on banana farms.

Asked of their reaction when they heard Mr Yalu was arrested for the alleged murder, they responded: “Shocked, surprised.”

Police will allege the deceased man paid $5000 dollars to have his leg amputated by Mr Yalu.

Detective Acting Inspector Gary Hunter said police will allege both men arrived at a park on Fitzgerald Esplanade early Saturday morning, before Mr Yalu 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.

John Yalu, 36, was charged with murder following the suspicious death of an Innisfail man. Mr Yalu on a farm.

“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.”

While Mr Yalu did not appear in court on Monday, he was represented by duty solicitor Kellie Walker who asked Magistrate Megan Power for a date to be set for a police brief handover and an adjournment.

Magistrate Power asked the brief be delivered by May 16, and adjourned the matter to June 6 for another mention.

She ordered Mr Yalu be remanded in custody, although no application for bail was made.

Originally published as Innisfail murder case: John Yalu, alleged offender’s matter in first court mention