Detectives investigating the suspicious death of 24-year-old woman Toyah Cordingley at Wangetti Beach on October 21 have renewed their appeal for information from the public.
During a press conference held today in Cairns, Detective Inspector Sonia Smith highlighted four key areas of inquiry that detectives believe would greatly assist the investigation.
Police would like to speak to anyone that had dealings with Toyah at Rusty’s Market in Cairns on Sunday October 21 between 12 midday and 1pm.
Any members of the public with dash-cam footage who were travelling on the Captain Cook Highway between the northern carpark and the southern carpark at Wangetti Beach on October 21.
Any members of the public that used either the northern or southern Wangetti Beach carparks on Sunday October 21, or anyone that regularly uses them. (Map below)
Any family, friends, acquaintances or work colleagues of Toyah that have not already spoken to police, to come forward and make
Category: Latest Queensland Police News
Dedication ceremony for late Senior Constable Brett Forte
Today, Police Minister Mark Ryan, Commissioner Ian Stewart, the Forte family, friends and colleagues gathered at the Queensland Police Service Academy, Oxley, for the tree planting and memorial plaque dedication ceremony, in memory of the late Senior Constable Brett Forte.
The ceremony took place in the Avenue of Remembrance, a significant part of the Queensland Police Academy, where the QPS commemorates police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
It serves as a reminder of the sacrifice, bravery and dedication to duty of those members of the service we have lost, it also represents a token of respect to their families.
To date, there is 68 dedicated memorials in the Avenue of Remembrance, all that represent fallen officers throughout QPS history. Today Senior Constable Brett Forte was remembered as the latest addition to this Avenue of Remembrance.
Together, Stuart Forte (Brett’s Father), Acting Deputy Commissioner Tony Wright and Assistant Commissioner Mike Condon planted
Racing participants charged and suspended after animal cruelty allegations
The Queensland Racing Crime Squad (QRCS) have charged three racing industry participants with animal cruelty and other offences in three Queensland locations.
After a series of investigations by the QRCS, the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) Integrity Investigations Team (IIT) and Principal Veterinarian, the racing participants will face a raft of animal cruelty and possession of instruments offences under the Animal Care and Protection Act (ACPA) the Racing Integrity Act 2016 (RIA) and drug offences under the Drugs Misuse Act (DMA).
A 61-year-old Licensed Thoroughbred Trainer from Cairns has been charged with Animal Cruelty under the provisions of Section 18 of the ACPA. Police will allege the trainer overdrove, overrode or overworked a racehorse while it was suffering an injury between October 5 and 20, 2018.
He has been given notice to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on November 12, 2018. QRIC has moved to immediately suspend the trainer’s licence.
In an unrelated matter,
Renewed appeal into 2015 suspicious fires, Toowoomba
Detectives have renewed their appeal for public assistance into two suspicious fires at the Garden City Mosque in 2015.
Investigators from the Toowoomba Criminal Investigation Branch believe the two fires, in January and April three years ago, are linked.
The first incident occurred on January 23 when an unknown person has broken into the Mosque on West Street and lit a fire in a plastic bin which caused damage to the floor of the building.
The second incident occurred on April 17 when a window was smashed and a fire was started inside the building, causing significant internal damage.
Police have recently received information which leads investigators to believe that the person of interest for these offences remains living in the Toowoomba area.
As the two fires are believed to be linked it is understood the person of interest is believed to be of similar description and acting alone.
Detectives have again released CCTV footage of
Drug trafficking charges, Alexandra Headland
Sunshine Coast detectives have charged a man with weapons and drug offences following a search of a property in Alexandra Headland yesterday.
Police conducted a search of an address on Okinja Road at around 9:20am yesterday.
It will be alleged during a search of the property officers located four firearms, ammunition, cash and quantities of cannabis oil and methylamphetamine.
A 85-year-old Alexandra Headland man has been charged with two counts of possessing dangerous drugs and one count each of trafficking dangerous drugs, producing dangerous drugs, supplying dangerous drugs, unlawful possession of a weapon (Category A), unlawful possession of a weapon (Category B), unlawful possession of a weapon (Category R), possession of explosives (ammunition), possessing relevant substances or things, supplying relevant substances or things and possessing anything for use in the commission of a crime.
He is due to appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court today.
Armed robbery and pursuit, North Brisbane
A man is assisting police with their inquiries following the armed robbery of Waterworks Road service station at The Gap.
Initial information indicates around 1.20am a metal pole was allegedly used to threaten an employee before the alleged offender made off with a sum of money, fleeing in an allegedly stolen white Ford Focus hatchback.
An attempt was made to intercept the vehicle however it was discontinued due to concerns for the safety of the public.
Police deployed a tyre deflation device (TDD) at Windsor however the driver drove around the TDD.
Shortly after, officers deployed another TDD on Gympie Road, Chermside which was successful.
The man continued to drive on deflated tyres before abandoning the car in a yard on Gympie Road, Aspley.
He then allegedly assaulted and threatened several residents with two people treated for minor injuries.
The Police Dog Squad tracked the man before locating him hiding under a house where he allegedly assaulted
Update – Suspicious behaviour appeal, Murrumba Downs
Police are making a public appeal for any information as investigations continue after a man approached a 12-year-old girl in Murrumba Downs last Monday.
As part of their appeal police will be at Duffield Road Kallangur from 7.30am to 8.30am where they will be seeking any information from the public.
Officers will be speaking to motorists and asking for anyone who may have dash cameras that were operating around the time of the incident.
Around 7.40am on Monday, October 15 the girl was walking along Duffield Road when the girl was approached by a man in a vehicle.
The man threatened the girl before fleeing the scene when the girl ran. He was last seen driving south along Duffield Street.
The girl was not physically injured during the incident.
The vehicle is described as a small blue car.
The man is described as Caucasian in appearance and aged in his late 40s or early 50s.
Police are encouraging
Armed robbery charges, Sunshine Coast
Detectives have charged a man following the alleged armed robbery of a Meridan Plains service station and another attempted armed robbery in Caloundra over the weekend.
It is alleged that shortly before 8pm on October 20 a man entered a service station on Parklands Boulevard and produced a weapon similar to a taser before demanding a female staff member hand over cash from the till.
The staff member compiled with the man’s demands before he allegedly stole a wallet from one of two customers inside at the time.
He then fled the business on foot.
It is further alleged that at about 12.10am on October 21, a business owner was confronted by a man holding a weapon similar to a taser as he left work on Mayes Avenue.
The man then allegedly assaulted the victim, striking him on the head, and demanded he hand over cash, before the victim fled the scene.
No property was taken
Victorian man charged after alleged betting scam
A 23 year-old Victorian man has been charged with allegedly exploiting a corporate bookmaker’s cash back promotional offer.
The Queensland Racing Crime Squad allege the man exploited the promotion which provides cashback for losing win bets when a horse places second or third, with returns paid in credits.
The Queensland Racing Crime Squad recovered almost $18,000 in cash, more than $90,000 in betting credits, devices used to facilitate the offence and bank cards in a search of his car and Surfer’s Paradise hotel room.
The Victorian man was charged with a single Federal charge of dealing with property reasonably suspected of being the proceeds of crime and has been given notice to appear at Southport Magistrates Court on November 5, 2018.
Queensland Racing Integrity Commissioner Ross Barnett said this case highlighted the close working relationship between corporate bookmakers and the Commission.
“The sharing of information associated with illegal betting activity is beneficial to the Commission,
Burglary charges, Murgon
Police have charged a boy following a burglary with violence incident that is alleged to have occurred in Murgon yesterday morning (October 21).
It is alleged at about 5.10am, the boy entered a residence on Harm Street and assaulted the male occupant with a brick as he slept.
The 54-year-old man sustained a laceration to his head and was transported to the Toowoomba Hospital for treatment.
As a result of investigations, the boy has also been charged in relation to a number of home burglaries that were allegedly committed in Cobb Street and Coronation Drive during the same period.
A 15-year-old Cherbourg boy has been charged with two counts of attempted enter dwelling with intent and one count each of unlawful use of motor vehicle, enter dwelling with intent and assault occasioning bodily harm whilst armed.
Anyone with information regarding these incidents is urged to contact police.
Investigations are continuing.
If you have information for police, contact