Young tradie accused of murdering woman over pay dispute
A grandmother who moved to Townsville just weeks ago to be closer to her family was allegedly killed by a young tradie in a deadly dispute over money.
Pamela Corless moved to the suburb of Cranbrook three weeks ago to be with her loved ones, but now she’s been cruelly ripped away from them.
The 73-year-old’s body was found by a family member on Monday morning in the yard of her Cranbrook home. She had fatal head injuries.
It is alleged 21-year-old Mark Daniel Ferguson hit the woman over the head during an argument on Sunday afternoon that turned violent.
Police say they were fighting over the cost of renovations Mr Ferguson had done at the home.
“It’s just a tragedy,” Detective Acting Inspector Phil Watts told reporters.
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“This is an incident where things have spiraled completely out of control and it was a completely disproportionate reaction to what was going on.”
Mr Ferguson was arrested at his Rosslea home on Tuesday night.
He faced court on Wednesday and was remanded in custody.
“Within a very short period of time the offender for this crime was identified, was arrested, was charged,” Acting Superintendent Damien Crossby said.
The grandmother’s home remains a crime scene.
Ms Corless is the third elderly Townsville woman to be killed in her own home in the past two years.
