Hope Island: Second man is charged over fatal car park stabbing with cops revealing ‘the reason’ for alleged murder of William Swinbourne
Police will allege a young Gold Coast man has been killed in a botched drug robbery, while a second person has been charged in his death.
William Swinbourne, 21, was found with a single stab wound in the Hope Island shopping center car park shortly after 2pm on March 11.
Despite efforts by paramedics, he died at the scene, with the incident sparking an extensive manhunt in the popular tourist destination.
Hours later, Haedyn Patrick Zachary Rawson was arrested at a nearby construction site.
The 23-year-old award-winning private schoolboy was later charged with murder, while a second man was released by police without charge.
A 24-year-old man has been arrested and charged with murder and robbery offenses following the alleged stabbing death of William Swinbourne (pictured with his partner)
On Wednesday, Queensland Police announced a second man, 24, had been re-arrested and charged with murder and robbery.
They said Rawson would now also be charged with theft.
Detective Inspector Mark Mooney said the charges were laid following an “extensive investigation” of CCTV footage, telephones and social media.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, he said detectives now believe the two suspects intended to rob Mr Swinbourne of a ‘small usable quantity of drugs’.
“We have continued to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the matter and we now have a much clearer picture of what happened before, during and after the incident,” he said.
“Police will allege that both men were involved in the planning of this robbery, which ultimately led to this incident on Hope Island.”
Inspector Mooney said it would be alleged Rawson inflicted the fatal wound but the second man was ‘implicit’ in the plan.
Haedyn Rawson, 23, (pictured) was arrested at a construction site near the parking lot on Hope Island where the incident occurred
He said police believed the pair exchanged messages on the day of the incident and may have organized the robbery.
The second man was initially released without charge, he said, because police understood one person was involved in the physical act. The 24-year-old man had “cooperated with the police the entire time.”
The Hope Island man is expected to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday afternoon.
Police will allege in court that Rawson was armed with a kitchen knife when he had a drink at the Boardwalk Tavern before stabbing Mr Swinbourne in his car.
Rawson and Mr Swinbourne are said to have met at a Fred Again concert two days prior to the incident.
The private school graduate was refused bail and will appear again in the Southport Magistrates Court later this month.
Rawson (pictured arrested) also faces a murder charge for what police say was a botched drug robbery
In a post on social media, Mr Swinbourne’s partner Kaysie Tooth paid tribute to the young man.
“I love you to the moon and back, in this life and the next and beyond,” she said.
“Forever looking at pictures of you, my love.”
Inspector Mooney said Mr Swinbourne’s family had been informed of the development and were pleased but distraught.
The investigation is still ongoing.