Teen girl’s alleged murder of Stuart Wallace-Cuneo not self-defence, police allege

Fresh insight into the holiday park stabbing death of a young Queensland man, allegedly at the hands of a 14-year-old girl, can be revealed.

Stuart Wallace-Cuneo died after he was allegedly stabbed by a 14-year-old girl at Point Vernon's Big 4 Hervey Bay Holiday Park.

A 14-year-old girl was not acting in self-defence when she fatally stabbed a 24-year-old man at a Hervey Bay caravan park, police will allege.

Instead, the investigation is looking at how a toxic cocktail of alcohol and drugs may have contributed to the alleged actions of the teen who is charged with the murder of Stuart Wallace-Cuneo.

This publication can also exclusively reveal the girl was not previously known to local police before her arrest in Point Vernon on Saturday night and while Mr Wallace-Cuneo had a limited history before the Hervey Bay Magistrates Court, detectives are not treating this as being relevant to the murder investigation.

It’s understood the girl’s friend, also a teenager, had previously arranged to meet up with Mr Wallace-Cuneo and on Saturday, he socialised with the pair at a caravan in the Big 4 Hervey Bay Holiday Park where they were staying.

It’s also understood that prior to his arrival, the girls had been left at the caravan without adult supervision and the 14-year-old alleged attacker had consumed both drugs and alcohol in the lead up.

A police car parked outside the Big 4 Hervey Bay Holiday Park after the alleged murder of Stuart Wallace-Cuneo.

While it’s expected the girl’s defence will say the stabbing (a single knife wound to the back) was triggered by a set of circumstances, police will claim it was still not done in self-defence.

They will also allege this is backed up by the second teen girl who was present.

It’s understood both the charged teen and witness are students at the same local high school.

The school was contacted and asked whether students or staff who may be struggling were being offered support or counselling.

However, a Queensland Department of Education spokesperson said they could not comment as the matter was before the courts.

The annexed site was under police guard for several days as detectives and forensic officers combed the scene.

The park’s management was asked for comment but declined.

The 14-year-old’s murder charge was mentioned in Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Tuesday afternoon.

It’s the second time members of the media have been at court to make an application to remain present for the proceedings which is at the discretion of the Magistrate Trinity McGarvie due to the defendant’s age.

Ms McGarvie adjourned proceedings until August 20 to consider the applications.

The teen remains in custody on remand.

Originally published as Teen girl’s alleged murder of Stuart Wallace-Cuneo not self-defence, police allege