Murder probe launched after man stabbed multiple times, house set alight

Police have expanded their list of suspects in the ongoing investigation into Jamie Barlow’s killing with a 16-year-old boy brought up on murder charges alongside four others. read what they are here.

Police have now charged five people with murder as they continue to investigate the suspicious death of Laidley man Jamie Barlow.

A 16-year-old boy from Leichhardt has been arrested overnight and charged with one count each of murder, attempted murder and arson arising from the incident.

He is due to appear in Ipswich Children’s Court.

The news comes after two 19-year-old women from Laidley, a 19-year-old Caboolture man and a 24-year-old College View man were all arrested on Tuesday night and charged with one count each of murder, attempted murder and arson.

The Caboolture man, Gabriel Angelo Humberto Jones appeared in Caboolture Magistrates Court on Wednesday while the remaining three, Charlotte Laura Barratt, 19, and Talia Healey, 19, and College View resident Braiden Taylor Leslie Harris, 24 appeared in Ipswich Magistrates Court.

The four were arrested at addresses in the Laidley and Caboolture areas.

Acting Detective Superintendent and Regional Crime Coordinator for the Southern Region Garry Watts said the arrests were the result of police working around the clock.

“It was a hard investigation in so much as we had detectives who since Monday evening worked all the way through and fortunately for us we were able to make a number of arrests,” A/Supt Watts said.

Police initially called for witnesses who may have seen four men near the crime scene, but A/Supt Watts the investigation revealed information that led to the arrest of two men and two women.

This led police to identify and seize an SUV and a sedan that are now undergoing forensic examination.

He did not go into specifics about the relationship between the accused killers and Mr Barlow, nor the circumstances around their arrest.

Emergency services were called to the Patrick Street address at 9.48pm on Monday where they found Mr Barlow, 48, at the rear of the property nursing “horrific injuries”.

They rendered first aid but Mr Barlow died about 15 minutes after they arrived.

Meanwhile Queensland Fire and Emergency Services crews from Laidley, Gatton, Forest Hill and Ripley extinguished the blaze but not before it gutted the home and killed several snakes Mr Barlow kept as pets.

Burn marks could be seen at the rear of the property and on part of the roof.

The lead detective said the attack was targeted, that the murderers knew their victim and that it may have been a drug related slaying.

“Police were first in attendance and were confronted by a male person at the rear stairs suffering quite serious injuries,” Acting Detective Superintendent, Regional Crime Coordinator for the Southern Region Garry Watts, said

“The ambulance attended a short time later and with police conducted first aid.”

It is understood Mr Barlow suffered at least six stab wounds to his chest and torso.

Tributes have started to pour for Mr Barlow, who is being remembered as a “great mate to those that knew him”.

“We are all shattered, Jamie was a great bloke (who) had a heart of gold and would give the shirt off his back for someone else if they needed it more,” friend of a few years Kel said.

“He would always take time to stop for a yarn or a smile and wave.

“His smile will be missed … He had a kind nature and a good heart.

“The police need to bring justice for Jamie.”

Police suspect the alleged murderers were armed with several weapons, though no firearms.

“We don’t believe it was a random attack, we believe it was a targeted attack on the victim,” A/Supt Watts said.

Mr Barlow’s partner Stacey Vale is assisting police with their investigation and is not considered a suspect at this stage.

She took to social media to say she was “heart broken”.

“I was there when this all happened,” she said.

“I loved Jamie and I’m going to miss him.

“I’m hurting so much.”

A/Supt Watts said Mr Barlow’s partner found him injured at the rear of the home.

“Then she was confronted by the four persons and they have then left,” he said.

“She has witnessed what can only be described as a horrific incident and she is assisting us with our inquiries.”

Police established a crime scene and blocked off part of Laidley’s CBD along Patrick Street, between Williams Street and Whites Road.

That cordon remained in place through most of Tuesday.

Police have appealed for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the Laidley area or on the Warrego Highway between 9.30pm-12am to come forward.

This includes anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage of a suspicious vehicle in the area.

Phone Policelink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Murder probe launched after man stabbed multiple times, house set alight