New details after alleged torture death
Police say they’ve ruled out family violence after a young man was allegedly found partially buried at a rural Queensland property.
The 23-year-old from Eagle Farm was located unresponsive a property on McLean Rd at Mount Mee on Wednesday after emergency services arrived about 8.30pm.
He died in hospital on Friday evening, just hours after his alleged attackers, a 21-year-old woman and 23-year-old man from Mount Mee, faced court on charges including attempted murder, deprivation of liberty and torture.
The attempted murder charge was upgraded to murder on Saturday.
On Sunday, Detective acting inspector Joe Zitney told media it was believed the three people were known to each other and it was “apparent” this was not family violence-related.
He said there was evidence to suggest the deceased man had been “in the vicinity” of Mount Mee since Monday, April 29.
“At this stage indications are the injuries sustained by the (alleged) victim occurred over a reasonably prolonged period of time but that will be determined by further investigation,” he said.
The (alleged) victim sustained multiple injuries … it’s my understanding a post-mortem is scheduled for Tuesday.”
It’s understood the man was discovered partially buried at the property, however Inspector Zitney declined to comment on this.
He said police attended after a triple-0 call, allegedly made by the accused woman, reported an assault.
He told media a crime scene investigators were continuity to comb over the rural property with multiple dwellings and police divers had scoured a dam.
“It is my understanding that it was anywhere between four to eight weeks that the male and female were residing at that address,” he said.
Detective Zitney said the investigation remained ongoing, including into how the deceased man arrived at the property, and called for anyone with information to come forward.
Both the 21-year-old woman and 23-year-old man were charged with offences including murder, common assault torture and wounding, and have been remanded into custody.
The woman is expected to appear in the Caboolture Magistrates Court on May 7, while the man is next scheduled to appear in the same court on July 4.
