In a shocking turn of events, Gold Coast councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden is facing murder charges after allegedly killing his mother’s partner. The incident unfolded on Wednesday at a residence in Arundel, Queensland, leading to Bayldon-Lumsden’s arrest.
Upon responding to a disturbance call at approximately 3 p.m., emergency services discovered a lifeless 58-year-old man inside the residence. Police have asserted that the cause of death was asphyxiation. Bayldon-Lumsden was apprehended at the scene and taken into custody.
The accused councillor, Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden, was absent during the recent mention of the charges in the Southport Magistrates Court. His legal representative, Jason Murakami, pleaded not guilty on Bayldon-Lumsden’s behalf. “I am instructed to enter a plea of not guilty to the charge,” Murakami stated during the court proceedings.
Murakami emphasised that his client possesses a clean criminal record. He also revealed that a bail application would be submitted and subsequently heard in the Brisbane Supreme Court at the earliest opportunity. The case has been adjourned and is set to be mentioned again on September 8.
Outside the courtroom, Murakami confirmed that Bayldon-Lumsden would vehemently contest the charges against him. It has been revealed that the victim was Bayldon-Lumsden’s mother’s long-term de facto partner.
Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden, a first-time councillor, made history by becoming the youngest individual ever elected to the position in 2020. Before his political career, he worked as a schoolteacher. Neighbours indicated that he had been residing with his mother at the Arundel address where the incident occurred.
The local council has been left reeling by the gravity of the charges against one of their own. Fellow councillors expressed profound shock upon learning of the allegations. “This is a complete shock,” one councillor stated. “We are in total shock that this has happened.”
The Gold Coast City Council has not commented in response to the developing situation. The case has sent shockwaves through the community, leaving many to grapple with the unfolding details surrounding the alleged murder.
Source: The Guardian
