Hitman charged with murder of Queenslander Reginald Hodgens in the Philippines

A murder trial is looming for the hitman who allegedly gunned down a Queenslander in the Philippines.

Queenslander Reginald Hodgens was shot dead in the Philippines in October.

A MURDER trial is looming for the hitman who allegedly gunned down a Queenslander in the Philippines.

Reginald Rene Hodgens, 70, was executed in October as he stood outside his unit in the Philippines town of Sinait, north of Manila.

Reginald Hodgens was executed outside his apartment north of Manila in the Philippines.

Filipino authorities are preparing to arrest the suspect, who police say is a “known gun for hire”

Mr Hodgens’ grieving relatives in Australia have been told the suspect will stand trial for murder once he’s in police custody.

The family of the Brisbane-born Mr Hodgens have expressed relief at the development.

“We are all relieved knowing that the police have decided to proceed with the case … it now seems only proper that justice should prevail,” his Perth-based brother Ronald said.

“However its early days now and we can only rely on the honesty of the justice system in the Philippines to see justice done.”

POSSIBLE MOTIVE REVEALED

QUEENSLANDER SHOT DEAD

Police in the Philippines believe the alleged gunman was acting on the instructions of others. However, no charges appear to have been laid.

The suspect was seen near Mr Hodgens’ home by a 10-year-old boy just prior to the execution-style shooting.

The alleged hitman had scared the child away by showing him a gun.

The witness ran home to alert his father and a few moments later they heard a shot ring out.

Reginald Rene Hodgens left Australia to pursue his dream of surfing all over the world.

A grisly murder scene photo, released by Filipino police, shows Mr Hodgens lying dead outside a gated unit.

In the following days the young boy picked out the gunman from a “rogue’s gallery”, or identification board as it’s known here.

Just what prompted the brutal murder of Mr Hodgens is still unclear.

But speculation has centred on a court matter he had filed against a Filipino.

In the weeks leading up to his murder, Mr Hodgens had been seen with a black eye.

After launching the court case he left his home in ­Cabugao and started renting in Sinait.

He was found with a gunshot wound to his head just before 8pm on October 15, local media reported.

After working for a time in Townsville as a carpenter, he left Australia to pursue his dream of surfing all over the world.

He had lived in Taiwan for about 16 years and spent the past few years in the Philippines.

Originally published as Hitman charged with murder of Queenslander Reginald Hodgens in the Philippines