Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden: One year since murder-accused councillor was arrested over stepfather’s death

Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden was meant to be hard at work and five months into his second term as a councillor. Instead he’s preparing to fight murder charges in court.

Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden was meant to be hard at work and five months into his second term as a councillor.

Instead he’s preparing to fight murder charges in court.

Friday marks one year since the 31-year-old then-councillor was arrested and charged with the alleged murder of his stepfather Robert Lumsden at his Arundel home.

Mr Bayldon-Lumsden’s legal team have entered a not guilty plea to the murder charge.

The former Division 7 councillor has kept a low-profile since he lost his re-election bid in March when he ran a close second to eventual winner Joe Wilkinson despite the high-profile case against him.

Murder-accused Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden. Picture: Nigel Hallett

He has attended no LNP party meetings, though the Bulletin understands he is again working while awaiting a committal trial, which is yet to be scheduled.

Few of his former council colleagues have spoken to him since his arrest a year ago, though Mayor Tom Tate confirmed he had kept in touch.

“I kept in touch with him post-election, I wanted to give him some space, but I made him know any time he needs me for a cup of coffee or any other bouncing back of ideas, he knows he has my mobile to do that,” he said.

“My heart goes out to his mum and sister, being one year now, it’s another time which will open that wound again.

“My thoughts and prayers will be with them.”

Still of Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden being taken away by police outside his home on August 23, 2023.

It will be alleged in court that Mr Bayldon-Lumsden had placed his stepfather in a fatal chokehold after a two-hour argument between the pair in their family home.

It is alleged Mr Lumsden had repeatedly threatened to report his stepson for misconduct while in council for bringing home confidential files if the 31-year-old were to move out of the house.

The former councillor has made no public comment since the election results were confirmed in April.

In his final social media post after the election, he gave his “heartfelt thanks to all who have given me their trust and support”.

“While I was not successful, I have been very humbled by the amount of support I and my family have received throughout the campaign,” he said at the time.

His lawyer Jason Murakami, of Behlau Murakami Grant, said: “The prosecution has taken its time in disclosing evidence they are intending to rely upon. From the defence perspective, we have no comment to make at this stage as we will do all our talking in the Court when the time comes.”

Mr Bayldon-Lumsden, who was elected in 2020, was suspended from office on full pay by the state government after being charged.

He spent a week in custody before being freed on bail under strict conditions.

Had he been re-elected, he would have faced further suspension until the resolution of his legal case.