Death and assault on Hastings Street

Margie Maccoll

Police have made repeated appeals to the public to come forward with information involving the death of Noosa man John Campbell Kerr, 87, who passed away after he was brutally assaulted in Noosa Woods on the Hastings Street boardwalk about 6am Sunday morning while going for a morning walk.

Sunshine Coast Criminal Investigation Branch Detective inspector Chris Toohey said a second assault of a 69-year-old man occurred around the same time and location on Hastings Street though the assaults were not visible to one another.

He said the 69-year-old man received injuries consistent with bodily harm. He received medical attention then came forward to police to provide a statement.

Det insp Toohey said there was only one person of interest to police in the investigation and Mr Kerr and the 69-year-old man were not known to each other.

Police have charged a 27-year-old Gympie man with the serious assault of the 69-year-old man and the matter went before Maroochydore Magistrate’s Court Monday morning.

The accused did not appear in court in person and the matter was adjourned until 24 July.

Police launched Operation Victor Cord on Sunday after Mr Kerr was found unconscious, face up on the boardwalk with severe injuries to his face.

Bystanders assisted Mr Kerr ahead of the emergency response, however, he died at the scene.

“It was a very confronting scene. It was very confronting for the community. They attended to Mr Kerr very well and we should thank them for that,” Det insp Toohey said.

“It’s a tragic incident for an elderly man going out for his morning walk.

“It is concerning a male person going out on a morning walk has sustained these injuries and died as a result of these injuries.“

The family of Mr Kerr released a photo on Monday in the hope it would encourage more witnesses to come forward.

“Officers are appealing to anyone who may have seen a man who was naked, or in various stages of undress, anywhere near the northern end of Hastings Street or walking into the Noosa Woods pathways between 5am and 7am on Sunday, to contact them,” Det insp Toohey said.

“We know there are witnesses who have not yet come forward and it is important for the investigation for Mr Kerr to speak to all persons who were present in and around Noosa Woods Sunday morning.

“We still haven’t got all the witnesses at this stage. To have the investigation complete and in its entirety we need to speak to everyone.

Mr Kerr is undergoing a post mortem.

“There are other witnesses we are looking to speak to – just people walking through at the same time.

“We want to know what anyone has seen. Information they might have thought is irrelevant but we’d like them to come down and let us make that decision.

“The problem we have with being in the best place in the world is people come to visit and then they leave. It’s a high priority for us to speak to everyone who could be in a position to offer some evidence in this matter.”

Det Insp Toohey said police were following various leads, speaking to guests on Hastings Street and were still collecting forensic information.

He said Mr Kerr was undergoing a post mortem on Monday.

Police have no evidence of a weapon being used but they couldn’t discount it, Det Insp Toohey said.

Detectives are also urging local businesses and homeowners near the boardwalk 1st groyne, with relevant CCTV captured between midnight and 6am, to come forward.

“We are still collating CCTV from in and around Noosa, from Hastings Street north up to Noosa Woods,” Det Insp Toohey said.

“We have no footage of the assault.”

If you have information contact Policelink at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting or call 131 444.

Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.