Paul Malcom Henderson charged with attempting to murder police officers

A man accused of attempting to murder police officers with a compound bow during a siege at his unit complex has appeared in court for the first time. Read what happened.

A Jubilee Pocket man accused of attempting to murder police officers with a compound bow during a four-day siege at his unit complex refused to speak during his brief first court appearance.

Paul Malcom Henderson sat shirtless and silent as he appeared in Bowen Magistrates Court via videolink from the watch house.

The 44 year old was arrested and charged on Monday morning after police entered the property and allegedly found him exhausted after a four-day stand off, which began on Thursday.

About 2pm on May 19 police went to the Erromango Dr home to conduct a welfare check.

It is alleged when officers arrived Mr Henderson barricaded himself inside the unit and armed himself with a compound bow beginning a four-day siege that resulted in an emergency declaration – police blocked the road and enacted a 100m exclusion zone.

Police at Erromango Drive in Jubilee Pocket where a man in body armour and armed with a crossbow was holed up inside the two-storey complex. . Picture: Karen Cable

Heavily armed Special Emergency Response Team officers were among those initially sent to the area late Thursday.

It is alleged he shot between 10 and 20 arrows at police officers, who had to take evasive action.

It is further alleged arrows caused damage to police vehicles.

Mr Henderson was taken into custody about 7.30am Monday and later charged with six counts of attempted murder and two counts of wilful damage of police property.

The court heard Mr Henderson had refused to speak with mental health officers or the court-appointed solicitor while in custody.

The court heard mental health officers had been attempting to speak with him for about two hours.

When Mr Henderson appeared via videolink he would not answer when Magistrate James Morton spoke to him.

“I’m looking for a person by the name of Paul Malcom Henderson, is that your name sir?” Mr Morton asked.

When he failed to speak Mr Morton said, “All right he’s standing mute.”

The court heard Mr Henderson was in a show cause position because of the charges, which means the onus is on him to prove why he should be granted bail.

However, no bail application was made because he had not spoken with any solicitor or indicated what he wanted to do with his matter.

A brief of evidence was ordered and the matter was adjourned to Proserpine Magistrates Court for a date in July.

Mr Henderson was remanded in custody.

Originally published as Paul Malcom Henderson charged with attempting to murder police officers