MAN FOUND MURDERED

POLICE have launched a murder probe after the body of a 40-year-old man was discovered in a Coolangatta unit yesterday.

Officers discovered the body after using a locksmith to gain entry to the man’s unit.

A friend had earlier raised concerns for his welfare.

Neighbours said they sometimes heard “yelling” coming from the unit.

POLICE have launched a murder investigation after a man was found dead in his Coolangatta apartment yesterday.

Detective Inspector Marc Hogan, from Gold Coast CIB, said officers were treating the death as suspicious.

Detectives found the man’s body when police were called to the Dixon St address to undertake a welfare check yesterday morning.

It is understood a friend phoned police around 11.30am after being unable to contact the man.

The front door of the unit, where the 40-year-old man resided, was locked when police arrived and a locksmith was called to unlock the door.

The man was found in the main area of the dwelling, Detective Inspector Hogan said.

The homicide squad were yesterday called in from Brisbane to assist with the investigation and forensic officers spent yesterday assessing the scene, including searching through rubbish bins located outside a house adjoining the unit block where the man was found.

“The investigation is ongoing, we haven’t confirmed anything at this stage,” Detective Inspector Hogan said late yesterday.

“We are working to determine all the circumstances of what has gone on.

“If anyone knows anything please contact Crime Stoppers or Gold Coast detectives.”

A neighbour said the dead man had lived in the block of three flats for several years.

“I’d never seen him work, he didn’t have a job and he was quite proud about that,” the neighbour said. “It is just two girls above him and a woman with a baby in the other flat.

“I heard yelling sometimes but I didn’t really know the guy, he kept to himself.”

A female friend of the man told the Gold Coast Bulletin he had lived in the apartment for about eight years.

“He was lovely,” she said. “He kept to himself and was quiet, but kind to anyone he met. He might not have had a job but he was trying to turn his life around by starting up a business.

“It is upsetting to hear people saying horrible things about him.”

Police have not yet released details of the crime scene, which remained active last night, or the victim’s identity.

Anyone with information about the death is urged to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.