Family grieves grandfather of eight after brutal murder at Woodridge

The man killed in what police described as a “terribly violent” murder south of Brisbane has been remembered as a “beloved poppy” to eight.

A QUEENSLAND man has been charged with murdering a grandfather by allegedly “stomping” on his head and leaving him to die on a suburban street.

Paul Conole, 40, a homeless man, was arrested on Friday and charged with murder after Woodridge grandfather Steven Church was found unconscious with critical head injuries at about 5am on Friday.

Grandfather of eight Steven Church was found unconscious with critical head injuries on a Woodridge street. Picture: 7 News Brisbane

Church, a grandfather of eight, was found in the middle of the road at the intersection of Defiance and North roads at Woodridge and died on the way to the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Steven Church. Picture: 7 News Brisbane

Conole allegedly tried to dump Church’s badly wounded body in a garbage bin before fleeing the scene.

Police initially believed that Church had been stabbed, but now say that no weapon was used.

However a full post-mortem examination is yet to be completed.

Conole was paraded before the cameras on Friday wearing a blue forensics gown and glaring his tongue to the public, while being escorted to a police van before he was taken to Beenleigh watch house.

Logan Police Acting Detective Inspector Chris Knight told the media that Church had endured a “terribly violent assault” with a “high degree of violence”.

Police escorting the accused murderer from Logan Central Police Station to the Beenleigh Watchhouse. Picture: Tara Croser.

Inspector Knight said neither drugs nor alcohol were believed to be involved and that the men involved were not known to each other.

In a statement the Church family said Steven would be sadly missed.

“Words cannot adequately express our grief and sorrow at losing Stef, a son, a brother, an uncle, father to four sisters, and perhaps the saddest of all a beloved poppy to eight young children,” the statement said.

Conole has been remanded in custody to appear in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Monday.