A Gold Coast councilor charged with the murder of his stepfather allegedly told police the fight that led to his death sparked a dispute over a $25 luncheon, court documents say.
Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden, 30, was charged with the murder of his mother’s 58-year-old partner, Robert Lumsden, after his body was discovered in their Arundel home on Wednesday afternoon.
Police records show that Bayldon-Lumsden allegedly told police he arrived at the house around noon where his stepfather gave him $25 for lunch but warned him not to spend more. The courier mail.
The suspect claims he was ‘belittled’ in the living room by Mr Lumsden for two hours before attempting to leave, and that his stepfather regularly treated him ‘abusively, coercively and controllingly’.
Bayldon-Lumsden said his stepfather pushed him before pushing him back, with both men falling over in the scuffle, police documents say.
The alderman then allegedly placed Mr Lumsden in a choke hold, knocking him unconscious, after which he attempted to resuscitate and called the police.
Gold Coast Councilor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden (front photo), 30, was charged with the murder of his mother’s partner, Robert Lumsden (rear photo), 58, at their home in Arundel on Wednesday afternoon
Bayldon-Lumsden allegedly told police he had an “abusive, compulsive and controlling relationship” with his stepfather, the court document said.
Mr Lumsden, who was said to have been a father figure to the alderman since he was 12, died at the scene.
Bayldon-Lumsden also alleged that his stepfather allegedly controlled his finances and even his role on the Gold Coast City Council, where in 2020 he was elected at age 27 as the city’s youngest-ever councillor.
Bayldon-Lumsden’s attorney, Jason Murakami, of Behlau Murakami Grant, said his client will plead not guilty to the murder and will file an urgent bail application with the Supreme Court.
Police were called to the house at Chiffley Place in Arundel just after 3pm on Wednesday due to reports of a ‘breakdown’.
The councilor was led away from Arundel’s home by police on Wednesday, wearing a blue forensic suit and paper bags taped over his hands.
The councilor was arrested soon after and led away from Arundel’s home by police, wearing a blue forensic suit and paper bags taped over his hands.
Bayldon-Lumsden previously worked as a schoolteacher before moving into politics.
Just hours before the “outage,” he shared photos of a “Walk or Wheel Wednesday” at Arundel State School, describing the day as “beautiful.”
Neighbor Kim Thompson, who lives opposite Arundel’s house, said her children had played with Ryan and his younger sister as children.
She noted that the family had lived in the house for seventeen years.
She said Bayldon-Lumsden was very active in the community and in the home, “mowing the lawns and tending to the house.”
“My first fear was that something had happened to Ryan, because he’s a beautiful, beautiful person, so I hoped nothing would happen to him,” she told the paper. ABC.
“He would be the one I know the most. He’s very active in the community in a very, very beautiful way — everyone knows him and loves him.”
Barry Kerin said he was devastated to see the tight-knit community turned upside down.
“I was home about an hour before all the police arrived (yesterday), but I only heard on the news this morning that he is being charged with murder,” Kerin said.
“There was no sound or anything.
Detectives and forensic officers remained in the home on Wednesday night
“My wife sat outside while I was shopping and she said she never heard anything either.”
Neighbor Alena Levrik described the trio as living in the “perfect house.”
“There’s nothing I can really remember, nothing happened, it’s pretty quiet.” said Mrs. Levrik.
“As far as we know, he (Mr. Bayldon-Lumsden) lives there with his parents.”
“We used to see him running with his sister in the mornings, but lately, maybe the last month or two, we’ve hardly seen them.