Katana sword murder charge dropped

Police arrived at a Millmerran home in early 2023, finding a hand-less man bleeding out after he was attacked with a katana sword. Now, years later, a court has heard his murder accused had the charges dropped.

Sixteen hours after the alleged bloodbath at Millmerran, Jayden Wade Doyle, fronted Toowoomba court on one count of grievous bodily harm and entering a premises to commit an indictable offence. Picture: File photos

A Darling Downs man accused of murdering his stepfather with a katana sword has been cleared of the violent domestic violence crime due to significant mental health reasons.

Hours after Grant Peasley was fatally injured at a Millmerran home in April 2023, his stepson, Jayden Wade Doyle, was arrested at a service station on Gore Highway, Captains Mountain.

Police alleged a dispute over car keys occurred, before Mr Peasley was struck with a sword, severing his hand, and causing deep lacerations to his neck, shoulder, and back.

Mr Doyle, 27, allegedly fled his mother’s home in a car, which he drove to the service station.

Earlier, it was reported that the then 25-year-old was acting erratically at the service station, where he doused himself in a bottle of water before grabbing a knife from the kitchen.

Mr Peasley, 56, was rushed to Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital in critical condition, however he died days later.

Mr Doyle’s charges were mentioned before the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Friday, May 30.

His appearance was not required.

The court heard his charges were finalised before the Mental Health Court on May 12, 2025.

Solicitor Alysha Jacobsen, who first represented Mr Doyle as a duty lawyer following his arrest, told the court, “essentially the proceedings against him are discontinued”.

Ms Jacobsen provided the court with the court order that was made before the Mental Health Court and Magistrate Kyna Morice struck his charges before Toowoomba Magistrates Court.

The charges struck out were murder in a domestic violence setting, armed robbery with personal violence while armed, going armed to cause fear, entering his mother’s home without permission and committing a crime, and stealing a car.