Man charged with murder four years after woman’s kayak death at Lake Samsonvale

A 55-year-old man has been charged with murder and fraud over the death of a woman north of Brisbane in 2020, with the case initially treated as an accidental drowning.

The woman died at Lake Samsonvale, northwest of Brisbane, in late November 2020. File picture: Dan Peled/Getty Images

A 55-year-old man has been charged with murder and fraud over the death of a woman who had reportedly drowned more than four years ago.

The man who now currently resides in Thailand was arrested on Sunday during his visit to Brisbane.

Police initially believed a 54-year-old woman from Warner, who was known to the man, had fallen into the water and drowned in a non-suspicious way while kayaking at Lake Samsonvale near Forgan Cove on November 27, 2020.

Witnesses and emergency services performed CPR but were unable to revive the woman and she was declared dead at the scene.

After protracted coronial investigations, including about conditions of the lake at the time, detectives from the Petrie Criminal Investigation Branch declared the death as suspicious.

The 55-year-old man has been charged with one count each of murder (domestic violence), fraud and attempted fraud.

He was refused police bail and is due to appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court today, May 5.

Originally published as Man charged with murder four years after woman’s kayak death at Lake Samsonvale