Matthew Walker, 34, charged with Nerang murder of Matthew Pascoe, 35

Police are working to piece together the final moments of a man found dead in a Gold Coast hotel room, as another man was remanded in custody accused of his murder. READ THE LATEST

Caity Pascoe (right), sister of Matthew Pascoe (left) attended Southport Magistrates Court on Monday.

The man charged with murdering Matthew Pascoe, whose body was discovered in a hotel room at Nerang on Saturday, has been named as his charge is mentioned in court for the first time.

Nerang man Matthew Walker, 34, was charged on Wednesday night with one count of murder.

He did not appear in Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday for the first mention of his charge.

Pascoe’s sister Caitlyn Pascoe was inside the courtroom as Magistrate Joan White adjourned the matter to next appear for a committal mention on June 17.

Matthew (Matt) Pascoe, 35, was found dead in hotel room at Nerang. Picture: Facebook.

No bail application was made and Walker will remain remanded in custody.

His lawyer Samuel Hwang from TWC Lawyers told media outside the courthouse that his client was innocent until proven guilty.

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said the full circumstances of what allegedly happened were still under investigation.

The QPS spokesman said: “The relationship between the victim (Pascoe) and the alleged offender (Walker) is still being determined.”

The body of Mr Pascoe, 35, was discovered by a cleaner at Nerang’s Hinterland Hotel at 11.15am Saturday, police previously said.

His cause of death was initially unclear, but a post-mortem revealed Mr Pascoe had sustained serious head and internal injuries.

City Pascoe, sister of Matthew Pascoe attended Southport Magistrates Court on Monday as her brother's alleged killer faced court.

Pictures: Charlton Hart.

“The initial injuries and cause of death were not clearly visible to investigators or scientific officers at the scene,” Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Mark Mooney said.

Inspector Mooney said Mr Pascoe checked into the hotel on Station Rd with his mother about 2pm on Friday. She left for the night about three hours later.

Mr Pascoe was last seen on the hotel’s CCTV footage at reception before he returned to his room. Police believe the room – number seven – is where the alleged murder occurred.

Inspector Mooney said Mr Pascoe, who was known to police, had booked the hotel room to consume alcohol as a court order prevented him from drinking at home.

In a statement posted online, Mr Pascoe’s sister Caitlyn described him as a “bright light” in the lives of everyone that knew him.

“Matthew was more than just a brother. His kind heart, sense of humour, and unwavering love for his family and friends touched so many,” Ms Pascoe wrote.

“Losing him has left an immeasurable void in our lives. He was and always will be uncle Matty to his nieces and nephews, who thought the absolute world of him.

“We ask that you please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers.”

Mr Pascoe's body was found by a cleaner in room 7 at the Hinterland Hotel on Saturday morning.

In another online tribute, friend Ra Pitman-Wilson said Mr Pascoe was a “young fulla” and reminisced about when the pair first crossed paths.

“F**k what people thought of you, we know what lays under the tats was nothing but (a) pure gentleman,” he wrote.

“That’s why the day you approched (sic) me – I gave you the time of day – I knew beyond the visual you had a story and I wanted to hear it when we spoke. I then wanted to be a part of it.

“Rest easy my bro, as you always did here, look over your mum.”

Mr Pascoe was on bail at the time of his death. He was facing a single charge police allege was committed at Nerang on April 28.

Mr Pascoe’s charge was next due to be mentioned in the Southport Magistrates Court on June 20.

Prior to that, he was sentenced in October 2022 after pleading guilty to charges including wilful damage and common assault. He was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment with immediate court-ordered parole, taking into account 159 days of pre-sentence custody.

Originally published as Matthew Walker, 34, charged with Nerang murder of Matthew Pascoe, 35