Ryo Jay Anan faces Maroochydore court over alleged Hastings St attack

A Gympie man has faced court over the alleged assault of a 69-year-old man on Hastings St on Sunday morning as police investigate the death of an 87-year-old man.

Police are continuing to investigate the death of 87-year-old John Kerr in Noosa on Sunday morning.

A Gympie “vagabond” charged over an alleged attack on a 69-year-old man in Hastings St on Sunday morning has been confirmed as a person of interest in the investigation of a separate fatal attack.

Ryo Jay Anan, 27, did not appear as his matter was mentioned by duty lawyer Michael Robinson in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on June 19, 2023.

Mr Robinson told the court he did not apply for bail and the matter was adjourned to July 24, 2023.

Mr Anan’s appearance was not required.

Court documents showed Mr Anan was charged with seriously assaulting a person over the age of 60 on the corner of Claude Batten Dr and Hastings St at Noosa Heads.

Mr Anan was offered a mental health assessment at the Maroochydore Watchhouse but declined, court documents state.

Forensic police at the scene of John Kerr’s death at Noosa Heads on Sunday morning. Picture: Lachie Millard

His occupation was listed as vagabond in court documents.

It comes as police continue to investigate a fatal attack on John Kerr, 87, about 6am Sunday on the boardwalk near Noosa Woods at the end of Hastings St.

Police are yet to lay charges over Mr Kerr’s death.

Mr Kerr — a grandfather of nine — died on the boardwalk behind Noosa’s well-known Hastings St, about 100m from the Main Beach groyne about 6am Sunday, after passers-by found him unconscious with significant facial injuries.

Despite their best efforts to revive him, Mr Kerr sadly died at the scene.

Sunshine Coast detectives launched homicide investigation Operation Victor Cord following his tragic passing, with a 27-year-old man taken into custody on Sunday who was assisting police with their inquiries.

Noosa man John Kerr died after an attack near Hastings Street on Sunday.

Sunshine Coast Detective Inspector Chris Toohey confirmed at a media conference in Noosa on Monday afternoon that the 27-year-old Gympie man charged over the alleged assault of 69-year-old Alan Beech on Sunday morning was the same person of interest in their investigation into Mr Kerr’s death.

Mr Kerr was being remembered as a beloved player at Noosa Golf Club, where he was a member for 28 years.

General manager Allan Harris said the club was struggling to come to terms with Mr Kerr’s death.

“We are pretty much all in shock. We are all struggling with the whole incident,” he said.

“Because of his long standing time here, he was well-liked, very well-respected and an active member.”

Mr Kerr played in multiple golf competitions and lived locally in Noosa.

Neighbours declined to comment on Mr Kerr’s death

Police dive crews at the scene at Noosa Heads on Sunday morning. Picture: Lachie Millard

Inspector Toohey said Mr Kerr had been a “loving family man” and avid golfer who had worked across the state as an agriculture consultant to farmers.

He said police were still collating witnesses and a post mortem was currently being carried out while other forensic evidence was being collected.

He confirmed while they were following all lines of inquiry, investigators had identified one person of interest in Mr Kerr’s death.

Inspector Toohey urged any other witnesses or people in Noosa Woods between 5am and 7am on Sunday, June 18, to come forward.

He said their investigations indicated the person of interest had been naked at the time of the assault on the 69-year-old man and urged any witnesses who may have seen the man naked or in varying stages of undress to come forward.

Inspector Toohey confirmed police had no involvement with the person of interest prior to the alleged assault, after social media reports surfaced of people encountering a naked man banging on windows along Noosa Pde in the early hours of Sunday.