Police reveal details of alleged stabbing murder in Cairns Central Shopping Centre
A 51-year-old Cairns father of five has been identified as the victim of an alleged stabbing death at Cairns Central shopping centre. A man has been charged with his murder.
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UPDATE: A Cairns father of five has been identified as the victim of an alleged stabbing death at Cairns Central shopping centre.
Michael John Eaton, 51, was allegedly grabbed from behind and attacked at the centre about 8am Wednesday.
Nicholas George Boak, 38, has been charged with murder.
Acting Detective Inspector Police Kevin Goan said Mr Eaton had been unable to work recently due to a medical condition and had been a regular at the shopping centre.
“His engagements with people in the centre were always of a polite nature,” Insp Goan said.
“There have been nothing but condolences relayed to the family because of how he was viewed by members of the public and proprietors of the centre.”
Insp Goan said Mr Eaton had five adult children and had recently separated from his wife but the family had maintained an amicable relationship.
“It’s obviously a very difficult time for them,” he said.
Black Ivy Boutique retail shop owner Debra Austin said Mr Eaton was a regular at the centre and appeared a “nice, quiet man.”
“He was a guy that just came in every day and read a book on a bench,” she said.
“He would just sit there, reading.
“Everyone would see him, he was very well known to everyone, it was a bit of a daily occurence.
Ms Austin said the bench he would regularly sit at had been removed.
“It’s all a bit sad,” she said.
“He just kept to himself.”
Cairns Central centre manager, Christie-Lee Jackson, said the shopping centre sympathised with Mr Eaton’s family.
“We offer our deepest condolences to the gentleman’s family, friends and loved ones,” she said.
“The safety and wellbeing of our customers, staff and community is our highest priority.”
Ms Jackson said the centre had reopened this morning, with all retailers trading normal hours.
EARLIER: Police have charged a man with murder after the alleged stabbing death of 51-year-old man at Cairns Central Shopping Centre.
A 38-year-old man was taken into custody a short time after the alleged killing just before 8am on Wednesday.
He had been helping officers with their inquiries but was subsequently charged with murder.
The man will appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on Thursday.
WEDNESDAY: Police are speaking to a number of witnesses after a man was allegedly stabbed in the throat and died inside Cairns Central Shopping Centre on Wednesday morning.
Acting Detective Inspector Police Kevin Goan said about 8am police were called to the shopping centre “in relation to an incident which occurred between two males on the ground floor”.
‘It appears a male has stabbed the other male; that person who was stabbed is now deceased,” he said.
“The person … has been taken into custody and our investigations are ongoing.”
Insp Goan said there were a number of witnesses to the events and there was CCTV footage available to police.
He said police were concentrating on identifying all the witnesses “so we can get the best picture possible of what has transpired”.
Insp Goan said the victim had suffered a “laceration” to his throat.
“He passed approximately 20 minutes after the wounds were inflicted.
“I can say the gentleman is known within the centre and the dealings he’s had with proprietors within the centre has been very positive. He readily engages with others and is described as a fairly laid back, easy going nice gentleman. More will be known in the coming hours and the next few days.”
Insp Goan said initial information was that the incident was a “chance happening”.
“These investigations are in their infancy and something we will work through this morning and throughout the day,” he said.
“Our scientific officers are on site and processing the scene.”
The shopping centre has now partially reopened, with Myer, Kmart and some specialty stores trading, along with Coles and Woolworths.
Cairns Central shop owner Debra Austin, from Black Ivy Boutique, said her staff have been left “shocked” and “frightened” by the incident.
“We were definitely shocked, those sort of things you don’t think are going to happen in the middle of a shopping centre,” she said.
“It is frightening to think that could happen.
“We are there early in the mornings and late at night, so there are some safety concerns.
“It’s not every day you go to work and then get shut down because there has been a death.”
Cairns Central shop owners have been told to avoid streets around the centre.
Ms Austin said it was unlikely her staff would return to work today.
“It’s not ideal because it’s school holidays, but at the end of the day someone has died,” she said.
“It’s a bit scary.”
EARLIER: A man is dead after an incident at a major Cairns shopping centre, police have confirmed.
A crime scene has been established at Cairns Central shopping centre.
A Queensland police spokesman said one person was in custody and police were now working to establish the circumstances of the man’s death.
Emergency services were called to the scene just before 8am on Wednesday to reports of a “massive laceration”.
Police are asking members of the public to avoid the areas of Bunda, Spence, McLeod and Aplin streets.
Some areas of the centre have been blocked off and will not be available for members of the public to enter.
Cairns Central’s centre manager Christie-Lee Jackson said most of the centre was closed and would remain so until further notice.
“We’re aware of an incident that took place this morning at Cairns Central. As this is now a police matter, we are unable to comment further,” Ms Jackson said.
“We’re assisting police with their investigation, and as always the safety of our customers and staff is paramount.”
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