Stab victim to find rest

THE partner of a man stabbed to death at Hermit Park last month has won the right to cremate the man she loved.

Quinton Donahue’s partner Kylie Barsley and her daughter Markaya Barsley, 18, with his boxing belt and a picture of him.

THE partner of a man stabbed to death at Hermit Park last month has won the right to cremate the man she loved.

Kylie Barsley was preparing to cremate her partner of seven years, Quinton Donahue, when she was slapped with an injunction order by his mother just hours before the ceremony.

“It was a shock,” she said. “But I knew I had to fight it to honour his wishes.”

A former Australian junior lightweight boxing champion, Mr Donahue, 37, was allegedly stabbed to death by Jessie Ronald Gordon, 20, on April 16.

Following forensic examinations of Mr Donahue’s body, the coroner released his remains to Ms Barsley, who then organised his funeral and cremation for May 11 at 2.30pm.

But just two hours before the ceremony was due to start, the court issued an injunction on behalf of Mr Donahue’s Logan-based mother.

Norma Donahue sought the order to stop the cremation, saying she wanted him to be buried alongside his relatives in Mareeba.

But Ms Barsley said her partner, whom she met at school, had not seen his estranged mother for years.

Lawyer Phil Rennick said a will signed by Mr Donahue in 2013 named Ms Barsley as its executor and stated that he wanted to be cremated in the event of his death.

“Those were his wishes (for cremation) and I wanted to make sure I upheld them for him,” Ms Barsley said.

“All things aside, I still want her (his mother) to come to the funeral.”

Mr Donahue was described as “a bit of a rogue, not perfect” but a loving stepfather to Ms Barsley’s four children.

“He loved kids,” she said. “He was a labourer and would do whatever he could to make the kids happy.”

The couple had planned to move away from Townsville and get married, chasing a better life for their family.

“The impact on our family has been huge,” Ms Barsley said. “In my eyes he was worth every bit of the fight left in me.”

On Wednesday, Justice Debra Mullins of the Supreme Court of Queensland dismissed the injunction, finding in favour of Ms Barsley.

Mrs Donahue, 56, had questioned the authenticity of her son’s final will, dated April 12, 2013, which expressed a wish to be cremated, alleging his de facto partner signed it and not her son.

Counsel for Mrs Donahue, Angela Rae, pointed to distinct differences between Mr Donahue’s signature on the will and his signature on other official documents.

“It’s also curious that the signature on the will is misspelt,’’ Ms Rae told the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court heard although the words “burial’’ and “cremation’’ were both circled in the will, it included the words “cremated is my wish’’.

It also said Mr Donahue wanted his ashes kept at his family home in Townsville for at least 12 months.

Justice Mullins examined Mr Donahue’s signatures on various official documents, finding some were dissimilar to that on the will and others were similar.

“Bearing in mind the deceased was not an overly literate man, it is perhaps not surprising there are variations in his signature,’’ Justice Mullins said.

Two witnesses signed documents claiming the will before the court was the one they saw Mr Donahue sign in their presence, after it was filled out for him by Ms Barsley.

One witness said Mr Donahue commented about being “claustrophobic’’ and said “he wanted to be cremated’’.

“I find the evidence from the witnesses compelling,’’ Justice Mullins said on Wednesday, deciding it was Mr Donahue’s signature on his last will and his instructions were to be cremated.

The court ordered that Mr Donahue be cremated on or after June 22, with his ashes to be given to Ms Barsley.

“He can finally be put to rest the way he wanted to be,” Ms Barsley said.

Mr Rennick said the case showed how important it was for people to have a will.

Mr Donahue is expected to be cremated on a date after June 22. Mrs Donahue is still considering whether to appeal.

Originally published as Stab victim to find rest