Levi Johnson stabbing case explained from death to final arrest
A brutal ambush-style execution in broad daylight triggered a dramatic national manhunt that brought anarchy to the streets of Brisbane for six terror-filled days.
Police & Courts
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During a routine Monday afternoon, word comes in that a man has been stabbed multiple times, possibly dead, and a group of men are on the run.
But no one could have prepared for the information which bubbles to the surface in the days which followed, along with one of the biggest, long-running manhunts Brisbane police have seen in a long time.
The Courier-Mail looks back at how the drama unfolded from the day of the attack to the moment police brought down all four suspects.
Monday, September 12
BRAZEN DAYLIGHT EXECUTION
About 1pm, a man in his 20s was reported to have been stabbed multiple times in the carpark of a busy gym in Carindale.
Police swiftly closed off the road and information coming out of the scene was scarce, but it was clear one man was dead and a group were on the run.
Detectives, scenes of crime police and paramedics swarmed the scene on Pine Mountain Drive and got to work as patrons inside Goodlife gym nearby tried to piece together what happened.
Initially, it was thought to be a road rage attack gone wrong, but it didn’t take long for police to confirm there could allegedly be more to it.
Police will allege a group of men in two cars rammed another car in the gym carpark and started to assault him.
Police further say the man tried to run, but two men allegedly followed and stabbed him to death.
Detective Superintendent Massingham confirmed Taskforce Maxima, the state’s outlaw motorcycle gang police agency, were involved in the investigation.
The victim, who was later revealed to be 23-year-old Levi Johnson, died at the scene.
Three men allegedly fled in a white Nissan Patrol, while another had run off on foot.
Just three hours after the attack, there was police movement a few hundred metres from the scene where the first suspect was arrested.
Stuart Galloway, 34, was found shirtless in a park and appeared to calmly co-operate with police as he was arrested.
He was initially charged with weapons offences.
But three others were on the run, and police had to find them swiftly.
Tuesday, September 13
FAMILY’S GRIEF FOR VICTIM AS SUSPECTS FLEE
As the sun rose, police returned to the scene of the alleged crime scene where SES helped scour bushes for evidence.
Flowers were left at the scene, with messages of grief written for Mr Johnson on the back of the bunches.
More details started to emerge about Mr Johnson, who was the brother of world champion boxer, Cherneka “Sugar Neekz” Johnson.
The three suspects wanted over his death were still on the run as Galloway faced court for the first time.
He was remanded in custody until September 29.
Wednesday, September 14
POLICE RAIDS NAB SECOND SUSPECT
A series of massive police raids were rolled out at houses in Birkdale in the early hours of Wednesday morning which resulted in the arrest of a second man.
Luke Moore, 34, was nabbed and taken into custody for questioning, but two others were still on the run.
Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham issued a public appeal to find the two remaining men, Kyle Martin and Thomas Myler, who were thought to still be in the Brisbane area.
Superintendent Massingham also revealed the alleged claim the men were a part of little-known gang, “13 Kings”.
A manhunt began and police called on the public to help track down their two remaining suspects.
Late Wednesday night, Galloway and Moore were the first of the four to be charged with murder.
Thursday, September 15
GANG LINKS AS COPS PROBE MOTIVE
Detectives started to look into whether Mr Johnson was killed in a retribution attack after an incident at a park on Monday.
Meanwhile, both Galloway and Moore had their cases mentioned briefly in Brisbane Magistrates Court where their lawyers spoke for them outside.
Andrew Owens, for Galloway, and Michael Gatenby, for Moore, said their clients would be contesting the charges.
“The difficulty we have at the moment is that the police have failed to identify what act or omission (Moore’s) done,” Mr Gatenby said.
“So we will need to get some further particulars but at the moment you wouldn’t have any idea what it is my client’s alleged to have done.”
Mr Gatenby said his client was not a member of the so-called 13 Kings gang.
“I don’t believe that any of the four men have claimed to be a member of that organisation. My client certainly doesn’t know what that assertion’s come from.”
The men did not appear and there was no application for bail.
Both men were remanded in custody with their matters adjourned to October 4.
Friday, September 16
FUGITIVES FEUD AND FIREARMS GET BURIED
After four days allegedly on the run, police arrested Thomas Myler at Wellington Point.
The arrest came after police issued warrants for their arrests and national alerts with law enforcement agencies.
About 7pm on Friday, a member of the public tipped off police on the whereabouts of Myler.
The tip led police to a residence on Skinner Ave, Wellington Point, where officers arrested Myler and a woman believed to be his girlfriend.
But, not before the pair allegedly buried a number of guns at a separate property at Chandler.
Superintendent Massingham said police were tracking a vehicle with Polair.
“That vehicle has been taken to an address in Chandler, where we will allege the wanted person … buried a number of firearms on a property,” Superintendent Massingham said.
Myler then returned to the Wellington Point home, which was soon surrounded by police.
He voluntarily left the house “after some minutes” and were taken into custody. Myler was charged with murder on Friday night.
Superintendent Massingham revealed Myler and Martin appeared to have had a falling-out and had chosen to split up.
“It would appear from some words that were spoken tonight by this man (Myler) that that relationship is somewhat fractured and that’s obviously something we will be looking at in the coming days,” he said.
Earlier on Friday, police also said it will be alleged that the men were lying in wait at Carindale shopping centre for Mr Johnson to return to his car.
Police then allege the men followed him to the place where he was attacked.
A white Nissan Patrol used as the getaway car after the stabbing on Monday was also found on Friday.
Saturday, September 17
TAKEAWAY TAKE-DOWN OF FINAL SUSPECT
A dash for takeaway from a Warwick hotel room was the final piece of the puzzle in the hunt for Kyle Martin who was taken into custody on Saturday night.
Martin, 24, and his girlfriend were surrounded by Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) and detectives at a property on Albion St.
Police will allege the vehicle linked to Martin’s girlfriend was seen and tracked to accommodation, where she then left alone to get takeaway food. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing against Martin’s girlfriend.
“That food was sufficient for two people and was paid in cash,” Superintendent Massingham said.
“It was at that time I was confident we had our wanted person.”
After being surrounded Martin surrendered just after 9.30pm.
“At this stage there will be some matters put before the court, with respect to motive. I can’t go into that in detail (as) we are in the sub judice period,” Superintendent Massingham said.
Martin faced Ipswich Magistrates Court on Monday charged with murder.
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