Man charged with murder after league identity Russell Klein allegedly mowed down

A man has been charged with murder and other offences after a Darling Downs rugby league identity was fatally struck by a car in his front yard.

Russell Klein's house at Millmerran where the incident took place. Picture: Michael Nolan

A man has been charged with murder after he “deliberately drove into” a beloved country rugby league identity in his own front yard, police allege.

It will be alleged there was a verbal altercation on Christmas night between two people before Russell Klein was run down and killed in the front yard of his Millmerran home.

Neighbours told The Courier-Mail they heard Mr Klein, 55, screaming for help in his Commens St home about 9.35pm on Sunday.

Paramedics tried to save his life, but he died at the scene.

The driver, a 30-year-old Millmerran man, allegedly abandoned the car, with police later finding him at a nearby park.

The man was charged with Mr Klein’s murder late on Monday afternoon.

In a statement, Queensland Police said that “(we) will allege the 30-year-old man deliberately drove into the 55-year-old man at an ­address on Commens St around 9.35pm”.

The man was also charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possessing drug utensils, authority required to possess explosives and driving a motor vehicle without a driver's licence.

The alleged offender will front Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Russell Klein died after a car allegedly ploughed into his home in Millmerran on Christmas Day.

Maureen Saunders, who has lived next door to Mr Klein for many years, said he was “a truly selfless person”.

Ms Saunders was one of the first people at the scene.

“I heard a lot of shouting and arguing and a car revving, but I thought it was hoons, so I didn’t go out,” she said.

“You don’t know what they could be armed with these days.

“Then I heard a loud bang, and someone crying out ‘help me, help me’.”

Ms Saunders rushed to Mr Klein’s aid and found him partially trapped under the house. Along with a second person, she worked to free Mr Klein as someone called the ambulance, but there was little they could do.

“As soon as the ambulance arrived they said we had lost him,” she said.

Ms Saunders said that Mr Klein was a “lovely person”.

“Every time he mowed his lawn he would come and do my nature strip. Every time,” she said.

“He was such a lovely person, he would do anything for you and give you the shirt off his back.

“I used to get him a Mitre 10 gift card for Christmas each year to say thank you for doing my nature strip, but I didn’t get to give it to him this year.”

Russell Klein

Mr Klein is well known in rugby league circles, having played for the Pittsworth Danes, Millmerran Rams and Inglewood Roosters.

The Courier-Mail understands Mr Klein was the owner-operator of Kleiny’s Grader Contracting, an agricultural service that launched in November.

Some of the general construction requirements listed on the company’s social media include: contours, washout construction and maintenance as well as driveways and driveway maintenance.

“He has over 30 years’ experience in grader operating,” a post reads.

Toowoomba Mayor and long-term Millmerran resident Paul Antonio said he was saddened to hear of Mr Klein’s passing, as his family and the Klein family were very close.

“He was a hard worker and a friendly guy,” Cr Antonio said.

“Russell was from a darn good family, and he had worked for Toowoomba Regional Council for a long time.

“Russell had recently started his own business, and there was a recipe there for a wonderful future but then this tragedy struck.”

Cr Antonio called on the community to come together and support the Klein family and the police who were investigating Mr Klein’s death.

Russell Klein (centre) from Millmerran, tragically died on Christmas Day after a car crashed into his Millmerran home. Picture: Facebook

“The police do such a magnificent job to make the community a better place to live,” he said.

“An event like this happening on Christmas night is going to be very difficult for the community to manage.

“We have lost an amazing citizen, someone who added a lot to the community, and we have to work together as a community to get through this.

“This downtown Millmerran, it is a small country town with a small, caring community, but in every community there is a negative element.”

Another neighbour who lived opposite Mr Klein said he was a “good bloke” and a veteran rugby league player.

“He was a machinery operator doing contour banking,” neighbour Graham Golan said.

“Only six months ago he bought a grader and (I) heard he had a lot of work on.

“He played for the Millmerran Rams for years and went down to Brisbane to play in their old boy games.”

Other neighbours on Monday recalled hearing a vehicle mount the kerb, followed by a loud bang.

Detectives and the Forensic Crash Unit are investigating the death.