Townsville: third person charged over alleged Railway Estate murder

A third person has been charged murder after a 39-year-old indigenous leader died after he was allegedly stabbed in the chest.

*Warning -Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised the following article contains the name of a person who is now deceased.

A third person has been charged with the murder of a prominent 39-year-old indigenous leader who was allegedly stabbed in the chest.

Queensland detectives have charged a 24-year-old Mount Louisa man with murder over the death of Aurukun man Bruce Martin, 39, in the Townsville suburb of Railway Estate on July 12.

Police will allege Mr Martin was stabbed in the chest and was seriously assaulted at an Eleventh Ave address after 4.30am on July 12.

A third person has been charged with murder in relation to the alleged homicide of a 39-year-old man in Far North Queensland. Picture: Qld Police

The proud Wik man, who was a well-respected leader among the remote Indigenous community of Aurukun in Cape York, died at the scene.

Detectives launched Operation Victor Madrox to investigate Mr Martin’s death.

On Wednesday, officers from the Townsville Tactical Crime Squad arrested a 24-year-old man as he left a car.

Police then searched the car where they allegedly found a handgun and a quantity of drugs and money.

The 24-year-old man has been charged with one count each of murder, enter dwelling, threatening violence and deprivation of liberty.

He is due to face Townsville Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Meanwhile, 32-year-old Jensen woman and a 37-year-old Beach Holm man have also been charged with Mr Martin’s murder.

Investigations are ongoing.

Police are continuing the investigation into the alleged murder of Bruce Martin. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

During his career, Mr Martin had been one of the original advisers on Tony Abbot’s inaugural Prime Minister’s Indigenous Advisory Council in 2013.

He also served as the director of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) between 2015 and 2021.

ILSC Group Chief Executive Officer Joe Morrison said Mr Martin was well respected by many.

“Having known and been a colleague and friend of Mr Martin before our time at the ILSC, I can attest that his vision was one with his elders by finding economic prosperity whilst ensuring integrity in Wik history and culture, he will be sadly missed,” Mr Morrison said.