Murder charge laid as Sunshine Coast police investigate sudden death of Conondale man
A 68-year-old Sunshine Coast man has been charged with murder after hinterland local Chris Gwin, 69, was found dead in a property after failing to show for a dinner with friends. Read the latest here.
Sunshine Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sunshine Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A man has been charged with murder over the death of a retired teacher aide in a Sunshine Coast hinterland community.
Sunshine Coast Police Crime Services Detective Inspector Chris Toohey confirmed Chris Gwin, 69, was found dead at a Kilcoy Lane, Conondale property on Saturday afternoon after alarm bells were raised when he did not attend a weekly dinner with friends.
A 68-year-old man was taken into custody at a Caloundra address at 11am on Sunday and was then charged late on Sunday with one count of murder and one count of interfering with a corpse.
Police allege the 68-year-old man from Maroochydore charged attended Gwin’s address on Thursday between 10am and 1pm where an unprovoked assault occurred.
Police allege Gwin was stabbed by the man who knew him and died a short later. The body was found on Saturday about 4pm.
Mr Gwin had lived in Crystal Waters for more than 20 years and his family had been notified of his death.
“Chris has been a victim of a violent offence but we won’t go into anything further than that,” Inspector Toohey said.
“At this time we’re trying to piece together all parts of Chris’s life, we’re speaking to all friends and relatives to assist us.”
The Maroochydore man was denied bail and will appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday morning.
Crime scenes across Sunshine Coast have been declared encompassing two vehicles and three properties at the Kilcoy Lane address.
Detectives have urged anyone with information, dashcam or CCTV near Kilcoy Lane in the past week to come forward, especially on Thursday between 10am to 1pm.
Long-time resident Debra ‘Froggie’ Fogarty said the news of Mr Gwin’s death had come as a shock.
“I’ve been here for over 20 years and Chris was here before me so I’ve known him quite a while,” she said.
“It’s quite a shock for all of us.
“He’s just quite a gentle, harmless guy so for something to be so big here is quite scary for our community.”
SES crews had also been helping to contain the scene and Inspector Toohey said they may be used for searches at the scene as the investigation progressed.
Sunshine Coast Criminal Investigation Branch detectives have asked anyone with information to come forward, including nearby residents with dashcam or CCTV captured within the past week.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24 hours a day at police.qld.gov.au/reporting.
Liquidator looks at transactions of $350m surf park’s director
The developer behind a proposed $350m surf park and resort complex on the Sunshine Coast paid himself more than $600k in a series of possibly voidable transactions, prior to the collapse of his company, liquidators claim.
Read more
Large slice of Coast land set to be carved up by prospective buyer
Buyers are expected to scramble in order to snatch up a major subdivision opportunity on the Sunshine Coast in one of South East Queensland’s strongest industrial development areas.
Read more