Bizarre condition investigated as possible 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 36-year-old John Yalu $5000 to remove his leg with his own circular saw, in an act that would tragically take Mr Tal’s life last Saturday morning.

According to police, the pair, who were believed to be loosely associated, had earlier agreed to meet at a waterfront Innisfail park where Yalu would allegedly undertake the amateur surgery. Mr Tal would bleed out at the scene, while Yalu would hours later be charged with his murder.

News Corp understands Yalu, a banana picker at a local farm, had been at the local RSL until about 11.15pm on Friday.

Between leaving the RSL and arriving at Fitzgerald Park about 4am Saturday, it’s understood Yalu attended the nightclub Nite Rumours. It’s not yet clear if Mr Tal met Yalu at the nightclub before the pair travelled to the park together.

Yalu will return to court on June 6.