Martin John Wheeler’s court charges discontinued after death

Almost a week after his body was pulled from the Fitzroy River after a search and rescue effort, the charges Martin John Wheeler was facing have been revealed.

Martin Wheeler ran a tree lopping business, Wheeler Tree Services.

Almost a week after his body was pulled from the Fitzroy River after a three-day search and rescue effort, the charges Martin John Wheeler was facing in court have been revealed.

The 35-year-old’s matters were mentioned in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on Friday.

He was facing 13 charges, including two counts of failing to appear, three counts of obstructing police, two counts of possessing dangerous drugs, and one count each evasion, possessing pipes or utensils that had been used driving an uninsured vehicle, driving without a licence, driving an unregistered vehicle and wilful damage.

The charges were formally withdrawn when the matter was mentioned before Magistrate Grace Kahlert.

Martin Wheeler at work in his tree lopping business.

Not far away from the courthouse just over one week ago, on Thursday, October 19, Mr Wheeler fled from police on East Street and was last seen in the river.

Police saw him in distress and calling out for help while treading water.

Mr Wheeler, also known as Marty, was not seen coming back to the bank.

His body was discovered on Saturday night, October 21, around 11pm.

Police investigations into his death are ongoing.

Mr Wheeler’s mother told media he had gone to get a hair cut on Thursday afternoon when he was spotted by police, as he had an outstanding warrant.

She said he never recovered from the trauma of his sister’s death when he was 14 and he had run from police because he was afraid of them.

His older sister, Lara Ashcroft, 23 at the time, was murdered by her former partner Stephen Wayne Robson.

Originally published as Martin John Wheeler’s court charges discontinued after death