27-year-old charged with murder of 87-year-old man and assault of another man

A man has been charged over the death of an 87-year-old man who was found on a beach path at a popular holiday spot.

A 27-year-old Gympie man has been charged with murder following the death of an elderly man at a popular holiday hotspot.

John Kerr, 87, was found unconscious on a path along the beachfront at the northern end of Hastings St, Noosa Heads, in Queensland at about 6am on June 18.

It is believed Mr Kerr was found to have suffered head injuries consistent with an assault, and despite the best efforts of bystanders who gave assistance while waiting for emergency services to arrive, he died at the scene.

Ryo Jay Anan, 27, was charged with Mr Kerr’s murder on Monday.

John Kerr was found unconscious near a beachfront in Noosa Heads. Picture: Queensland Police

Police were looking to speak to a man captured on CCTV walking along a path near the crime scene. Picture: Queensland Police

Police will allege officers found Mr Anan about 100m away on the beachfront from where Mr Kerr was discovered and took him into custody.

It is understood the two men were not known to each other.

Mr Anan had his matter briefly mentioned in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday.

It was adjourned to July 24 to coincide with other charges the Gympie man is facing.

Police allege Mr Anan, who was born in Japan but was last known to live in Gympie, assaulted a 69-year-old man in Noosa Heads on the same day as Mr Kerr’s alleged murder.

Mr Anan was charged with serious assault of a person over 60 years old.

Acting Detective Inspector Craig Mansfield said ‘additional information from witnesses’ forensics had assisted in the investigation. Picture: 7NEWS