Cody Shaw, Brandon Whaite charged with murder over alleged Gympie bashing

Two young Gympie men have faced court on charges of murder following the death of a Lagoon Pocket man, with the family of one of the men trying unsuccessfully to have his name suppressed.

Two men have had their charges upgraded to murder over an alleged horrific bashing outside a pub in the centre of Gympie about 2am Sunday, November 19, 2023.

Two Gympie men have been charged with murder over an alleged early morning bashing outside the Queensland Hotel in Mary Street, which has left a 41-year-old man dead.

Cody James Shaw, 21, and Brandon Steven Charles Whaite, 24, have been charged over the death which happened 20m from the Queenslander about 2am Sunday.

Police have alleged the 41-year-old, from Lagoon Pocket, suffered critical injuries in the attack when he fell and struck his head on the road.

Members of the public performed CPR on him following the incident.

He was flown to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a critical condition, and died about 5am Monday.

Mr Shaw and Mr Whaite had their charges mentioned in Gympie Magistrates Court Monday afternoon, less than 12 hours after the man’s death.

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The 41-year-old Lagoon Pocket man died in hospital Monday morning, only 27 hours after the alleged assault at Mary St.

They had originally each been charged with one count of grievous bodily harm, but these were upgraded to murder as the matter was mentioned in court.

Their appearance in the Gympie court on Monday, either in person in custody or by videolink, was excused.

Neither one made a bid for bail.

No pleas have been entered to the charges.

The pair were arrested by police following the Sunday morning incident, and family and friends filled the public gallery, some fighting back tears.

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Cody James Shaw, 21, and Brandon Steven Charles Whaite, 24, each had one charges of grievous bodily harm upgraded to murder when their matter was mentioned at Gympie Magistrates Court Monday afternoon.

One member of Mr Whaite’s family inquired with duty lawyer Chris Anderson during the hearing as to whether a non-publication order could be obtained on their behalf to suppress the 24-year-old’s identity.

Ultimately, no application was made as the family was deemed to have no “right of audience” before the court, and the court had no power to make such an order on the matter.

“Proper administration of justice does require these matters to be heard in open court,” Magistrate Bevan Hughes said.

The court ordered a police brief of evidence be given to the two men’s lawyers by January 5, 2024.

They are scheduled to return in court on January 15, 2024, by videolink.