Named: Woman charged with murder after Man, 80, dies after allegedly stabbed in Palm Cove

A Kamerunga woman charged with murder after an 80-year-old man, allegedly stabbed to death in Palm Cove, has had her matters mentioned in court.

A murder investigation has been launched after an 80-year-old man was allegedly stabbed to death at Palm Cove overnight. Picture: Isaac McCarthy

58-year-old Kamerunga woman Catherine Mary Kelly has been charged with one count of murder following the alleged stabbing death of an elderly Cairns man in Palm Cove on Tuesday night.

Police were called to the Villa Paradiso apartment complex on Williams Esplanade following an alleged serious assault about 10.50pm.

Upon arrival, emergency services located a man with several stab wounds in a living room area.

A murder investigation has been launched after an 80-year-old man was allegedly stabbed to death at Palm Cove overnight. Picture: Isaac McCarthy

He passed away a short time later at Cairns Hospital.

Ms Kelly was taken into custody at the scene; she was charged with murder on Wednesday.

Police were called to a unit block about 10.50pm on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. A younger woman has been taken into police custody. Picture: Isaac McCarthy

At 7.30am on Wednesday, Williams Esplanade was busy with joggers and dog walkers, with two police cars parked at the Villa Paradiso unit complex the only sign of unusual activity at the idyllic beachside suburb.

Detectives conducted an investigation at the apartment block on Wednesday morning, where the man was a resident.

Acting Inspector Jason Chetham said police believed the elderly man and the 58-year-old woman were known to each other but police were still confirming the exact connection between the pair.

Cairns Police Inspector Jason Chetham said police had recovered a knife from the apartment which the will allege was used to stab the man in his 80s. Picture: Brendan Radke

He said Ms Kelly was not a family member and was not believed to be the man’s carer.

He said police officers had recovered a knife from the apartment which police will allege was used to stab the man.

“One of the residents in the apartment block made the triple-0 call,” Mr Chetham said.

“(The man had) multiple stab wounds about the torso, on the front and on the right side of the neck and also on the back of the shoulder … it was quite a confronting scene for our staff.”

The Villa Paradiso unit complex at Palm Cove, on the Cairns northern beaches. Picture: Isaac McCarthy

Mr Chetham said police had not discovered signs of forced entry into the apartment.

“Exactly what happened in that apartment last night is what we’re trying to work out,” he said.

“The lady does not reside there at all. We will try to get to the bottom of exactly why she was there.

“We believe the gentleman had lived in that area for a while.”

Palm Cove resident Simon Welsing said the tourist suburb was normally quiet.

“You definitely don’t expect it here. Other than the tourists, this is a low-key community,” Mr Welsing said.

Nick Tate, a tourist from the Gold Coast travelling with his partner and two children, said he was shocked to hear of the man’s death.

“We’ve visited Palm Cove a few times. It’s shocking that something like this would happen here,” Mr Tate said.

“It’s very heartbreaking for the family.”

Ms Kelly first appeared in Cairns Magistrates Court for a mention on January 11, where a pathology report was ordered and she was remanded in custody.

The matter will return to court on 22 March.

If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.

Originally published as Named: Woman charged with murder after Man, 80, dies after allegedly stabbed in Palm Cove