09-07-2025
Pair accused of murdering Will Swinbourne in Gold Coast car park to stand trial
Two men accused of murder during an alleged drug deal gone wrong on the Gold Coast have been committed to stand trial.
Haedyn Patrick Zachary Rawson, 24, and Kai Reinhardt, 25, appeared at Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday, charged with one count each of murder.
Police allege the pair conspired to rob 21-year-old Will Swinbourne during a drug deal at Hope Island on March 11, 2024.
Mr Rawson is accused of stabbing Mr Swinbourne in the chest with a kitchen knife when he met him in a car park off Santa Barbara Road about 2pm.
Mr Reinhardt has not been accused of stabbing Mr Swinbourne, but is alleged to be party to the killing.
Mr Swinbourne died at the scene.
The confrontation sparked an extensive manhunt after Mr Rawson allegedly fled, with police setting up road checks around the affluent suburb.
Police said the co-accused and the alleged victim met at an electronic music festival at The Spit two days earlier.
Southport Magistrates Court heard statements from six witnesses, including Mr Reinhardt's then-partner Kelly Petry.
Ms Petry told the court she was drinking with the co-accused and another woman at a nearby tavern on the afternoon of the alleged murder, before Mr Rawson left.
She said Mr Rawson later returned to the tavern and she noticed "red marks" on his face.
She said his phone and glasses were missing.
Ms Petry said she became concerned but Mr Rawson said: "Don't worry about it".
After they left the tavern, Ms Petry said she contacted a lawyer before offering a statement to police.
She said she did not believe or did not recall whether she spoke to Mr Reinhardt about deleting information on his Snapchat after the alleged murder.
Ms Petry said police suggested she could be charged with accessory to murder when they arrived at her property to arrest Mr Reinhardt two days later.
No charges relating to Mr Swinbourne's death have been laid against Ms Petry.
Witness Norman George told the court he was in his car in a car park near the tavern and a medical centre at the time of the alleged murder.
He said he saw two men leave a car near him and then heard "harsh voices" before a "horrifying scream".
Mr George said he then saw one of the men running from the car park.
Another witness, Sharon Verity Hall, told the court she was parking next to two men when she noticed "tension" between them.
She said one man was "going backwards trying to get away" as the other moved towards him.
Ms Hall said she then reversed into another car park and got out of her car, before one of the men said, "No, no, no" while putting his hands up.
She described hearing a "thud" and saw one of the men with a "blue face" holding his chest.
Ms Hall said she screamed for help and yelled "somebody stop him" when the other man ran from the scene.
Mr Rawson was arrested and charged with murder that day, while Mr Reinhardt was charged two days later.
Magistrate Jane Bentley committed Mr Rawson and Mr Reinhardt to stand trial for murder.
Mr Rawson declined to speak or offer a plea.
Mr Reinhardt said he would plead not guilty but declined to offer a plea for the separate charge of armed robbery.
Neither Mr Reinhardt or Mr Rawson applied for bail.
The matter will be go to trial at Brisbane's Supreme Court at a date to be determined.
