Mackay dad Samuel Luke Muntelwit charged with murder of Colin Thomas Grohs
Police have charged a Queensland dad with murder following the death of his housemate.
Police & Courts
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Police will allege an accused murderer lived with his alleged victim “in some capacity over a short period of time” before the pair were involved in a violent fight.
Samuel Luke Muntelwit is charged with murdering 64 year old Colin Thomas Grohs at East Mackay.
Superintendent Shane Holmes said police were called to the Rae St address after paramedics found Mr Grohs unresponsive inside the property just after 3.40pm Thursday.
He was declared dead at the scene.
Superintendent Holmes said Mr Grohs had lived at the property where he was found and it was understood Mr Muntelwit “have been living there in some capacity over a short period of time”.
Superintendent Holmes said detectives and forensic services went to the scene as part of the police investigation and interviewed a number of witnesses.
He said they also “conducted an extensive forensic examination of that residence”.
As a result CIB detectives took 33-year-old Mr Muntelwit into custody on Thursday night and he has since been charged with one count of murder between September 30 and October 4, 2024.
“It will be alleged that the two men were involved in a physical altercation and that had occurred prior to the man’s death,” Superintendent Holmes said, adding police did not believe any weapons had been involved.
He said the two men were known to each other and both were known to police.
“Investigations are ongoing to establish the details of (their) relationship,” Superintendent Holmes said.
“The investigation will look at the circumstances leading up to the event and obviously the background of both the deceased and the (alleged) offender.
“This was an isolated incident in the area and there’s no ongoing safety concerns for the community in that particular area.”
The investigation is ongoing and the collection of exhibits from the crime scene would be scientifically examined “and the detectives will focus on identifying further witnesses and interviewing them and constructing a brief of evidence that will be presented to the court at a later date”, Superintendent Holmes said.
Mr Muntelwit faced Mackay Magistrates Court via videolink for the first time early Friday morning when the charge was read to him.
Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan said it was not a charge where any bail application could be heard in her court.
Under Queensland legislation anyone charged with murder can only apply for bail in the supreme court.
Mr Muntelwit was remanded in custody and the court heard he would have to remain in Mackay watch house until early next week before he was transported to a larger prison in Rockhampton.
Ms Hartigan also explained between now and the next mention date in early January Mr Muntelwit’s lawyer might consider if he had prospects of bail and bring an application in the higher court.
“If he or she doesn’t believe you have any prospects at this time, then you’ll still be in custody … and we’ll have you on the videolink on that day so you can hear what’s going on,” Ms Hartigan said.
This appearance is required at the next mention, but Ms Hartigan said afterwards he would not need to appear.
She asked if he understood what would happen and he said “yes”.
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