Dean Robert Bender, 63, charged with murder following alleged fatal stabbing in Bayview Heights
The man charged with murder over the alleged fatal stabbing of a Cairns North man on Tuesday has been named. Details:
The man charged with murder over the alleged fatal stabbing of a Cairns North man on Tuesday has been named.
Dean Robert Bender, 63, was charged with one count of murder (domestic violence offence) over the death of a 69-year-old Cairns North man on December 2.
Emergency services were called to a property on Yara Street, Bayview Heights at 3am following reports a man had sustained stab wounds.
On arrival, the 69-year-old man was found dead.
Mr Bender was taken into custody and charged with murder on Tuesday afternoon.
Mr Bender did not make an application for bail and was remanded in custody, with a committal mention set for February 10, 2026.
Detective Acting Inspector Amanda Winterburn confirmed the two men were known to each other however she declined to answer questions about the weapon allegedly used and details about the victim’s injuries.
“We are treating this as a domestic and family violence incident,” Inspector Winterburn said.
“For privacy reasons, I’m not able to disclose the full nature of their relationship, and the background information regarding the nature of their relationship is still forming part of our investigation.
“It is still very early in our investigation and we are continuing to work through all the evidence to determine what has transpired.
“This is obviously a very difficult time for the family and we are providing all available support.”
Det Acting Inspector Winterburn urged members of the public to come forward with any information.
“If there are witnesses or anyone does have information that they contact police with that information,” she said.
Families living on the Cairns street where the man was stabbed expressed their shock after waking up to a crime scene in the usually quiet neighbourhood.
One Yara St resident said the street was often noisy due to traffic, but was otherwise a quiet area.
“People mind their business,” she said.
Another neighbour said “nothing like that” had ever happened on the street before.
Councillor Cathy Zeiger, whose division includes Bayview Heights, said she was “absolutely shocked” at what had occurred.
“It’s such a beautiful area … things like that don’t happen here, not that I’d expect that anywhere in Cairns,” Ms Zeiger said.
“It’s just horrible, all the residents would be shocked.
“My condolences to the family of the man that passed away.”
Mulgrave MP Terry James said he was “very sorry” to hear about the death.
“No one wants those sorts of things happening in the middle of suburbia,” Mr James said.
“To the family of those people that are affected – I feel for them.
“I just hope that everything can be resolved.
“It’s a very sorry state of affairs.”
Originally published as Dean Robert Bender, 63, charged with murder following alleged fatal stabbing in Bayview Heights
