Hope Island stabbing victim named as Surfers Paradise man Will Swinbourne, 21
The man allegedly dragged from his car and stabbed to death in a Gold Coast carpark has been identified, as new details emerge about what police will allege happened in the crucial moments before he died.
Police & Courts
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A man stabbed to death in a Gold Coast carpark had met his accused killer at a music festival in Southport days earlier, police will allege.
Surfers Paradise man Will Swinbourne, 21, was allegedly ambushed in the carpark beneath Gold Coast Radiology at Hope Island and stabbed in the chest with what police say was a large bladed knife about 2pm on Monday.
Paramedics tried desperately to revive him but he died at the scene and sparked a mass manhunt for two people which continued for several hours.
Haedyn Patrick Zachary Rawson, 23, of Redbank Plains, has since been charged with one count of murder in relation to the death of Mr Swinbourne. The other man has not been charged.
Police say they will allege Mr Swinbourne met Rawson at a music festival at the Southport Spit at the weekend, featuring UK music star Fred Again.
“We can allege the victim has attended the offence location... and we believe he’s (Mr Swinbourne) then been attempted to be robbed and was stabbed in the process,” said Detective Inspector Mark Mooney, of Gold Coast CIB.
“We believe they met briefly over the weekend prior to the incident occurring and that is the only time they know each other - there’s no other relationship there at all.
“It’s (the stabbing) happened very quickly - my understanding is the victim had only just arrived.”
Det Insp Mooney said the other 23-year-old who was arrested had given himself up to police but was not involved in the alleged murder.
He said Rawson and the other man had been drinking together in the Boardwalk Tavern next to the radiology clinic.
Det Insp Mooney “categorically” ruled out bikie links.
He said a carving knife had been seized as part of police investigations.
“It’s very concerning behaviour - anyone who takes a knife anywhere is asking for trouble,” he said.
“We ask people to leave their knives at home - they don’t need them. Society’s not that dangerous that you need a knife to protect yourself.
“You take a knife to an incident like this and this is the possible consequences of that.
“It’s devastating for the families involved. You’ve got two families of young men, both of whose lives are now ruined - one no longer with us and one who possibly will be spending a very long time in prison.
“It’s really devastating that this is still occurring in our community.”
Det Insp Mooney paid tribute to his colleagues for the quick arrest, saying it was due to “excellent team work”.
It comes after Mr Swinbourne’s girlfriend Kaysie Tooth took to Instagram overnight to post heartfelt tributes.
“I love you to the moon and back, in this life and the next and every one after that,” she wrote with a photo of the two of them kissing passionately.
“Forever looking at photos of you my love,” Ms Tooth wrote as part of her Instagram story.
She also posted a quote: “Cherish the moments with the one you love. For moments can become history in the blink of an eye.”
Mr Swinbourne’s friends have also taken to Instagram to pay tribute to their much-loved “Swina”.
“RIL Swina … sick world we live in,” Mr Swinbourne’s close friend Fletcher Bruggy wrote.
While another friend, Sam Capel wrote “forever in my heart, I love you mate”.
Mr Swinbourne previously attended Marymount College in Burleigh Waters and was currently enrolled at Griffith University, according to his social media.
Lochie Brenssell shared an old video of Mr Swinbourne, captioned: “That smile will be missed, big man, in our hearts forever”.
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