Michael Menzel: Court told one of five charged with Scenic Rim murder has sacked legal firm

A court has been told one of the five people charged with the murder of a Scenic Rim man has sacked his lawyer.

One of the men charged over the alleged shooting of a Queensland father in front of his daughter has sacked his lawyer, a court has been told.

James Carstairs-Patten is one of five people charged with the murder of Scenic Rim man Michael Menzel in October 2019 during what police allege was a home invasion.

Michael Menzel died after being shot during what police allege was a home invasion in Gleneagle in October 2019.

Mr Carstairs Patten and four co-accused – Te-Awa Mauratana Thompson, Beau Edward Cunningham, Phoenix Nugent and Matthew David Taylor – are facing a raft of charges over the alleged incident.

Some of them include murder, arson, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and armed robbery with actual violence.

Police allege Mr Menzel, 48, was shot in the leg at his Gleneagle home, near Beaudesert, when a group of people forced their way in before 6am on October 14, 2019.

Police forensics comb Mr Menzel’s home. Te-Awa Mauratana Thompson, James Carstairs-Patten, Beau Edward Cunningham, Phoenix Nugent and Matthew David Taylor have been charged with murder and other serious offences over the alleged incident.

A critical Mr Menzel was treated at the scene by paramedics but died just after 7am.

A 40-year-old man was allegedly bashed on the head with a hammer during the invasion.

All five have been remanded in custody but none appeared before Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday as their matters were briefly mentioned.

Kate Bevan, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, said DNA evidence was still outstanding and was expected to be ready in a week.

She told the court lawyers representing Mr Carstairs-Patten were required to appear but there had been difficulties with the legal firm.

“Our office contacted (them) … who advised they had been sacked, essentially,” Ms Bevan said.

Magistrate Anthony Gett noted the lawyers had never been granted leave to withdraw.

“I do express my concerns about the defendant (Carstairs-Patten) being in custody and not having adequate legal representation,” he said.

All matters were adjourned to March 5 to allow the remaining evidence to be disclosed, but Magistrate Gett ordered a legal representative for Mr Carstairs-Patten appear on the next occasion.

Other lawyers acting for the defendants did not apply for bail.

Mr Carstairs-Patten will next appear via video link.