Outpouring of grief as prominent Aurukun man Bruce Martin identified as Townsville stabbing victim

A prominent Indigenous adviser has been identified as the victim of a fatal stabbing in Townsville as police continue to search for suspects who fled the scene.

Bruce Martin. Picture: Russell Shakespeare

*Warning -Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised the following article contains the name/image of a person who is now deceased.

A prominent Indigenous adviser has been identified as the victim of a fatal stabbing in Townsville as police continue to search for suspects who fled the scene.

A homicide investigation is under way after Aurukun man Bruce Martin, 39, was allegedly stabbed in the chest at a home on Eleventh Ave, Railway Estate about 4.50am on Wednesday.

First responders attempted to give him CPR, but he was declared dead at the scene.

A prominent figure in Indigenous political circles, Mr Martin primarily worked in the community development space and he was appointed as one of the original advisers on Tony Abbot’s inaugural Prime Minister’s Indigenous Advisory Council in 2013.

He also worked on the board of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation and the council of James Cook University.

A respected member of the remote Aurukun community in Cape York, Mr Martin’s father Dave Martin is a well known anthropologist who lived and worked there since the 1970s.

Bruce Martin at the landing in Aurukun. Picture: Jeff Camden

Detective Inspector Jason Shepherd said initial investigations indicate Mr Martin was allegedly stabbed after suspects — they believe were known to him — arrived at the Eleventh Ave home in a white vehicle, and an argument broke out.

“The argument does appear to be over money that may have been owed,” he said.

“It appears to be a targeted attack over a debt.”

Police have yet to locate the suspects involved and are appealing for anyone who may have CCTV footage of a white vehicle they arrived and left the scene in.

Police were called to a residence at Eleventh Ave, Railway Estate following reports a man had been stabbed. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Insp Shepherd said Mr Martin had only been visiting friends at the time and did not live permanently at the address. He said police had spoken with the two residents who live there.

“They’re obviously distressed, the two of them have been in the police station since it happened this morning, providing versions of what occurred,” he said.

Dressed in blue protection suits, forensic police were seen going in and out of the Eleventh Ave home with evidence bags.

Police were called to a residence at Eleventh Ave, Railway Estate following reports a man had been stabbed. Picture: Shae Beplate.

It’s understood the weapon involved has not been recovered at the scene at this stage.

Neighbour Ned Ware said he saw two men and a woman leave the house and walk down the road at about 3am.

“They were yelling, laughing and drinking,” he said.

Insp Shepherd said there was evidence of a group of people drinking at the home before the stabbing took place, and they were able to verify the resident’s movements that morning with CCTV.

No arrests have been made at this stage. Investigations are continuing.

Originally published as Outpouring of grief as prominent Aurukun man Bruce Martin identified as Townsville stabbing victim