Bash death may have been mistaken identity

A MAN was “totally defenceless” as he was beaten to death and his home trashed in what friends believe was a case of mistaken identity.

Mates gathered at a Maryborough pub yesterday to raise a glass to John Bourke, a man they say “wouldn’t and couldn’t hurt a fly”.

Two teens were charged with murder after his lifeless body was found about noon on Sunday.

The 15-year-old and 17year-old boys — who cannot be named for legal reasons — appeared briefly in the Children’s Court yesterday.

It’s understood one line of inquiry police are considering is that the alleged killers were seeking retribution over a previous conflict.

But Mr Bourke’s friends said they believed he was wrongly attacked and that the intended target may have lived nearby.

Police had taped off two properties to the left of Mr Bourke’s house yesterday as forensics teams continued to comb the crime scene.

Mr Bourke, 45, had been severely disabled after suffering a car crash and relied on crutches and a mobility scooter. Friends said he was a wellliked member of the Freemasons, and a fanatical Richmond supporter.

He had gone home to watch the footy on Saturday night after a drink at his favourite pub, The Park Hotel.

“He sat in here and had lunch that day, he was good as gold — he was never not happy,” Jules Irwin said.

Friends returned yesterday to the pub to console each other, shaking their heads in disbelief as they remembered a “gentleman” who was quickwitted and didn’t mind a prank — his favourite being when locals covered his mobility scooter in 200m of yellow and black Tigers tape after last year’s Grand Final.

Anthony Tyers said Mr Bourke would do anything for his friends.

“He wouldn’t hurt a fly, he would give you the shirt off his back,” Mr Tyers said.

“He’s a total gentleman.”