Will Swinbourne: Haedyn Rawson and Kai Reinhardt committed to stand trial on murder charge

Two men charged with murdering young Gold Coast man Will Swinbourne during an alleged botched robbery have been committed to stand trial. Witnesses have shared their versions of events.

Murder accused Haedyn Patrick Zachary Rawson, 24, depicted in 2021 in Brisbane. Picture: Richard Walker

Witnesses to the alleged murder of a young Gold Coast man have told a court they heard a “horrifying scream” and saw a man putting his hands up in submission while saying “No, no, no.”

Surfers Paradise man Will Swinbourne, 21, died on March 11 last year after allegedly being stabbed in the chest in a covered carpark underneath medical suites on Santa Barbara Rd at Hope Island.

Redbank Plains man Haedyn Patrick Zachary Rawson, 24, and Hope Island man Kai Stacey Reinhardt, 25, are both charged conjointly with murder and robbery.

Police allege the defendants formed a common intent to rob Mr Swinbourne during a drug deal, and it was in the context of the robbery that Mr Swinbourne was fatally stabbed.

Alleged murder victim Will Swinbourne. Picture: Supplied

The two men faced a committal hearing in Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where six witnesses gave evidence.

Norman George told the court he was sitting in his car reading a book while waiting for his wife when he saw two men get out of a nearby vehicle and move to its rear.

He then heard “harsh voices,” followed by a “horrifying scream”.

Mr George said he then witnessed a man run from the car park.

Sharon Hall was pulling into a vacant spot in the car park when the passenger door of the vehicle beside the spot swung open suddenly and a man got out.

The crime scene at Santa Barbara Rd, Hope Island. Picture: Scott Powick

She told the court as she reversed to find a new spot, she noticed there were actually two men there, and it looked like there was “tension” between the pair.

“One was going backwards trying to get away, the other one was trying to catch [him],” she said.

Ms Hall told the court she then found another park and was walking back towards where she had seen them, as it was en route to the exit, when they came back into her line of sight.

“I heard a male saying ‘no no no’ [while] putting his hands up,” she said.

Ms Hall then heard a “thud” or “punch”.

She called triple-0 before witnessing a man run from the car park, and said she yelled out for the man to stop, and then for somebody to stop him.

The crime scene at Santa Barbara Rd, Hope Island. Picture: Scott Powick

“I turned around to walk back to my car, and I saw a man standing holding his chest, his face blue, so I shouted for help,” she said.

Hannah Connell was eating lunch in her vehicle while on a work break.

She told the court she saw two men walk past her vehicle and exchange their jumpers, which she thought “weird”.

Shortly afterwards, she heard yelling or screaming, and the word “f---”, before witnessing two men running from the car park.

She went to investigate and rendered assistance to Mr Swinbourne, before running upstairs to get a doctor.

Mr Reinhardt’s then-partner, who this masthead has chosen not to name, told the court she was drinking with the defendants and a fourth person at a nearby pub in the hours leading up to Mr Swinbourne’s death.

Alison and Steve Swinbourne outside Southport Courthouse after their son's alleged killers were committed to stand trial for murder, July 9, 2025. Picture: Alex Treacy

She said she was left alone at the pub at one point, before later speaking with the defendants outside the venue.

The witness said at this later conversation, she noticed Mr Rawson, who police allege delivered the fatal stab, had red marks on his face, and he reported he had lost his phone and sunglasses.

Both defence counsel conceded a prima facie case against their clients, who were committed to stand trial in the Supreme Court of Queensland at Brisbane on a date to be fixed.

Neither man entered pleas to either of their charges, although Mr Reinhardt’s counsel Amelia Hughes indicated her client would be pleading not guilty to murder.

Outside court, Mr Swinbourne’s father Steve said his family was “very pleased that they’ve been committed to stand trial for murder”.

He expressed concern about the defendants making a future bail application, saying the family would “strongly contest” any such moves.

Originally published as Will Swinbourne: Haedyn Rawson and Kai Reinhardt committed to stand trial on murder charge