Police probe ‘desire for amputation’
POLICE are investigating whether a retired grandfather who allegedly paid a fruit picker to “amputate” his leg with a circular saw suffered from a rare medical condition that made him feel compelled to have a body part removed.
News Corp understands police will probe whether Kalman Tal, a 66-year-old grandfather from Innisfail, suffered from a neurological disorder that caused him to desire the amputation of his leg, which had full physical function.
Mr Tal allegedly prearranged to pay Ni-vanuatu fruit picker John Yalu, 36, $5000 to remove his leg with his own circular saw, in an act that would take Mr Tal’s life early last Saturday.
According to police, the pair, who were believed to be loosely associated, had earlier agreed to meet at a waterfront Innisfail park where Mr Yalu would allegedly undertake the amateur surgery.
Mr Tal bled out at the scene, with Mr Yalu charged with his murder hours later.
The Bulletin understands Mr Yalu, who was working in the Far North Queensland town as a banana picker, had been at the local RSL until about 11.15pm on Friday.
Between leaving the RSL and arriving at Fitzgerald Park about 4am on Saturday, it’s understood Mr Yalu attended the local nightclub Nite Rumours.
It’s not clear if Mr Tal met Mr Yalu at the nightclub that evening before the pair travelled to the park together.
On Thursday, there were no signs of the incident that had unfolded at Fitzgerald Park just days earlier.
The town carried on as usual, however, many residents spoke of the disbelief following the incident.
One popular food opera
tor told News Corp they had interacted frequently with Mr Yalu, who was one of their regular customers.
They described feeling “dumbfounded” at learning Mr Yalu, a Vanuatu national, had been charged with Mr Tal’s murder.
According to the shop operators, Mr Yalu would often pay for other customers’ food and frequently stopped by for a chat.
“He is a lovely man and was alway very polite and friendly,” the worker said.
Residents who lived on
the same street as Mr Tal said he was a quiet man, and would rarely leave home.
“We didn’t see him much, only to take the grandy (grandkid) to school,” one neighbour said.
“We’d wave at each other through the car but that was about it.”
Many Innisfail locals recalled their interactions with Mr Yalu, who they described as friendly and kind.
Mr Yalu remains behind bars ahead of his next court appearance, scheduled for June 6.