Police call for calm in rural Qld community as man fronts court over alleged murder of 13-year-old girl
Police have called for calm in a local community as the man charged with the murder of a 13-year-old girl fronted court for the first time.
A man charged with the murder of a 13-year-old girl after allegedly ploughing into a crowd of people in a rural Queensland town has been identified.
Trevor Caulton fronted Mount Isa Magistrates Court after he was arrested and charged over the girl’s death on Saturday morning.
Police allege Mr Caulton, 52, drove a vehicle directly into a crowd of people in the small town of Pioneer, near Mount Isa, following a “large disturbance” involving multiple people on Delacour Drive.
The girl was allegedly struck and died from head injuries.
Court documents reveal Mr Caulton, who was born in Mount Isa but resides in Pioneer, is facing a single count of murder.
During a brief court appearance on Monday, his lawyer asked for a brief of evidence by mid-September.
Mr Caulton will return to court on September 26.
He did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody.
Police have called for calm in the community following the girl’s death over fears of unrest and potential retribution.
Mount Isa police Acting Superintendent Jason Smith said the girl’s death was a “distressing situation” for the tight-knit Indigenous communities in the area.
“What I’m concerned about is that the passing of this poor girl will incense members of the community,” he told NCA NewsWire.
He called for the community to place their trust in the police to ensure the investigation continued smoothly.
“It’s a terrible event, with terrible circumstances,” Superintendent Smith said.