Janet Guthrie Cairns: ‘Beautiful, funny’ former Plaza Palms boss murdered in alleged DV case

The identity of the man accused of killing former Cairns woman Janet Guthrie last week has been revealed, as police share the nature of injuries to the ‘beautiful, funny’ 51-year-old mother.

Janet Guthrie and daughter Tiahni Guthrie.

The identity of the man accused of killing “beautiful, funny” former Cairns woman Janet Guthrie has been revealed.

Pensioner Ramah Lee Wishbone Manning, who police say was in a relationship with Ms Guthrie, faced Caboolture Magistrates court on Wednesday morning, charged with the domestic violence murder of the 51-year-old mother.

The 47-year-old man, born in Cairns and now living in Caboolture, was not required to appear at Caboolture Magistrates Court and faces charges of murder (domestic violence), entering a dwelling with intent, robbery, and contravening an order about information necessary to access information stored electronically.

Janet Guthrie 51-year-old woman believed to have been murdered at her Bongaree property. Picture: Supplied

Pensioner Ramah Lee Wishbone Manning, who police say was in a relationship with Ms Guthrie, faced Caboolture Magistrates court on Wednesday morning. Picutre: Supplied

Mr Manning’s lawyer James Torcetti had the matters adjourned until Thursday, April 20, 2023.

A full brief of evidence was ordered and Mr Manning will again not be required to appear.

He was remanded in custody.

Ms Guthrie, 51, was found dead in her Bongaree home on February 16 when police conducted a welfare check after her neighbours had heard a noise.

Detective inspector Ben Fadian on Wednesday morning said a post mortem examination had been conducted.

“We are still awaiting a report from the pathologist, what I can say is the [woman] … had injuries to her chest area,” he said.

Prior to the incident he said the two had been in a relationship and police had been called to the address on February 9 due to a disturbance, but there had been “no other history between the two” that officers were aware of.

“However, I can say that still forms part of our investigation.”

He said, “the circumstances around that in terms of the accused entering the house will form part of the brief of evidence and I need to be careful on the matters I touch on because It will be matters presented to the court”.

Meanwhile, investigators continue to ask the public for help in tracing the movements of a white Isuzu truck with QLD registration 170ZBA.

“We have possession of that motor vehicle, what I am seeking from the public is dashcam footage and CCTV footage of that vehicle between the 15th and 16th of February this year,” he said.

A GoFundMe fundraising account, organised by Trudy Walsh and titled ‘Janet Guthrie Memorial’, has raised more than $10,000.

“Due to the unforeseen, tragic circumstances of the loss of Janet, we are raising funds on behalf of Tiahni and India to help ease the financial pressures,” the GoFundMe read.

Three Sistas Executive Director Janet Guthrie found two used syringes and a packet of drugs in the centre's playground in 2015. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

“Janet was not only a devoted mother and friend to many, but also a strong devoted pillar of the community.”

One of Ms Guthrie’s daughters, Tiahni Guthrie, shared a heartbreaking photo captioned “Forever and always my number one – I love you mumma”.

A woman named Lisa Jane shared a tribute to the “beautiful” Ms Guthrie on a Bribie Island community page.

“Janet was incredible, beautiful, funny, kind and loved her daughters more than anything else in this world.

“RIP beautiful Janet”.

He said she lived alone at the waterfront property.

News Corp understands Ms Guthrie had attended a “spiritual cleansing” on February 15, hours before neighbours heard the disturbance.

Ms Guthrie previously lived and worked in Cairns, where she was the director of the now-defunct Plaza Palms accommodation centre in Manunda.

Three Sistas founders Janet Guthrie and Stuart Wright outside their block of units in 2016. Pictures: Jack Tran

A GoFundMe page set up by Trudy Walsh has already raised $9240 of a $20,000 goal to help ease financial pressures imposed on daughters Tiahni and India.

Former partner Stuart Wright wrote on social media that “no child deserves to have to go through what my girls are going through at the moment”.

“Janet and I shared a complicated relationship of more than 20 years and whilst we didn’t always get along or agree with (each) other, we did share a common love for our girls and a commitment to their wellbeing,” he wrote.

Mr Wright is not accused of any involvement in her death.

Originally published as Janet Guthrie Cairns: ‘Beautiful, funny’ former Plaza Palms boss murdered in alleged DV case