Man charged for murder of Coast teen

A MAN has been charged overnight for the murder of a 16-year-old schoolboy on the Gold Coast on Saturday night.

A MAN has been charged overnight with the stabbing murder of a 16-year-old schoolboy on Saturday night.

Ryan Howes, 23, was found hiding in the roof of a relative’s Bundall home after a massive police manhunt.

Howes has been charged with murder over the fatal stabbing of Michael Brack.

The Benowa High teenager was stabbed in a park on Allawah St about 10.20pm on Saturday, just metres from the Coogeen St home where Howes was found.

Howes is being held in police custody and is due to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court today charged with one count of murder.

KARL FLEES AS PANIC GRIPS PARIS

DOGGONE: HEARD, DEPP CASE ADJOURNED

Michael Brack who was fatally stabbed at Bundall. Photo from Facebook.

Michael Brack knocked on several doors in the area begging for help but he was unable to be saved.

Yesterday police attended a Coogeen St home about 10am to speak with Howes but he saw them and ran off, sparking a massive manhunt throughout the suburb.

Neighbouring streets were cordoned off while detectives, police crews, the dog squad and the police helicopter combed the area.

About 2pm police dogs led officers to the roof of the Coogeen St home from which Howes had fled earlier.

Police arrest the man. Photo: Mike Batterham

In a dramatic arrest, officers ripped tiles from the roof and smashed through fibreglass insulation to remove Howes who had been hiding for more than four hours.

Police arrest the man. Photo: Glenn Hampson

Detective Superintendent David Hutchinson said there were no other persons of interest in the case, despite a social media post that went viral suggesting otherwise.

The post spoke about the stabbing death and resulted in a suspected retaliation attack and home invasion at Molendinar.

Det Supt Hutchinson said the Facebook posts were believed to be a prank.

“We have a man in custody over the stabbing death at Bundall on the weekend,” he said.

“I can’t answer whether the accused and the victim were known to each other but I can say they moved in the same circles.

Michael Brack. Photo from Facebook.

“Over the past 24 hours we had a lot of calls through to Crime Stoppers in relation to a post on Facebook.

“We have investigated this and the man responsible for the posts is in no way connected to the investigation. We believe it was a prank.

“We do appreciate the public’s assistance in this matter but do not need to receive more information about this post.”

The scene of a home invasion at Bloodwood Crescent Molendinar. Picture Glenn Hampson

Det Supt Hutchinson said police were led to Howes as a result of their investigations and the quick arrest was a great result.

Benowa High students took to social media to celebrate the news of an arrest.

The sudden death of the well-liked teenager hit the school hard and senior students yesterday formed a large circle on the school oval and observed two minutes silence in his memory.

Floral tributes were placed at the school gate and inside the grounds on a seat where Michael and his friends often sat. Friends were last night planning a “bush doof” at ­­Pacific Pines, where Michael used to attend school, to remember the teenager who loved to party.

The Brack family has been too distraught to speak and it is believed Michael’s mother was yesterday hospitalised.

Michael Brack who was stabbed in Bundall. Photo from Facebook.

Det Supt Hutchinson said he expected formal murder charges to be laid overnight.

I can’t answer whether the accused and the victim were known to each other but I can say they moved in the same circles,” he said.

HOW IT UNFOLDED

— Saturday, November 14, 10.20pm: Police and paramedics called to Allawah St, Bundall, to reports of a stabbing. Emergency services find 16-year-old Michael Brack bleeding and are unable to save him.

— Sunday : Police canvass the area, door knocking and speaking to locals for witness accounts and evidence.

— Midnight yesterday: Police called to home invasion at Bloodwood Crescent, Molendinar, where up to 30 kids in masks armed with baseball bats scream “you killed my mate”.

- Yesterday, 5am: Police leave Bloodwood Cres to pursue other leads in murder investigation.

— Yesterday, 10am: Detectives visit Coogeen St, Bundall, to speak with a person of interest. Seen on the footpath he flees, jumping over neighbouring fences, sparking a four-hour manhunt.

— Yesterday, 1pm: Police close Allawah and Coogeen streets using police dogs to comb yards. Some officers also begin searching roof cavities in the area.

— Yesterday, 2.20pm: The 22-year-old murder suspect is found hiding in the roof of a relative’s home in Coogeen St.

— Yesterday, 2.40pm: Paramedics called to check over the suspect who is bleeding and dehydrated.

— Yesterday, 3pm: Suspect transferred to the Southport Watchhouse for questioning.

Originally published as Man charged for murder of Coast teen