Latest news with #HopeIsland
ABC News
09-07-2025
- ABC News
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.
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Designer-loving quadriplegic living off the NDIS 'claims to be a KING in his homeland'. The reality is very different - and now he's accused of doing unspeakable acts to his carers
A quadriplegic, designer-clad immigrant on 24-hour NDIS care at his million-dollar waterfront unit has been charged with multiple counts of molesting his female carers. Sohail Aleem Qureshi faces seven charges of sexual assault at his home on the Gold Coast 's Hope Island where he stockpiles expensive Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Ralph Lauren goods. Queensland Police have also charged him with one count of fraud, dishonestly gaining benefit/advantage and one of common assault. Despite his disability, Qureshi is accused of assaulting female NDIS contractors during their shifts. Qureshi's condition is described as an 'incomplete quadriplegic' and he retains some restricted movement in his limbs that allows him to still stand unsteadily. While Qureshi was said to have swollen feet and ankles, he required the care workers to 'massage his groin [to help his circulation] because he sits for long times'. Qureshi bragged to his carers that he was a 'very important person' and 'a king of Pakistan' who had 'lots of money and luxury cars, including a Lamborghini', they told Daily Mail Australia. However, Daily Mail Australia understands he is actually a former taxi driver in the US, where he previously lived, and still speaks with an American accent. His charges relate to alleged incidents going back to 2002, after his US-based wife Josephine recruited NDIS workers to care for him at the Gold Coast apartment. The workers made contact with Ms Qureshi via online hiring platforms and were interviewed by her over Skype from her home in Chicago while they attended his unit in person. A female international student revealed Qureshi's wife also boasted about their past moneyed lifestyle, and described her husband's 'cool, expensive wheelchair'. 'Qureshi said he was very rich and had led a rich life in New York,' she said. The carers revealed Qureshi said how much he hated Australia, but loved the NDIS funding he was being given. It is believed Qureshi was disabled by a fall in Brisbane more than four years ago which injured his spine. He started to learn to walk again while receiving NDIS round-the-clock care. 'He told me that Australia is a "s*** country" and that he "can't wait to leave this country",' said one. 'But "the NDIS gives you this funding and 24/7 care and where do you get that?",' she added. One alleged victim claimed the NDIS recipient could move reasonably freely even with his condition, which causes a degree of weakness or paralysis in all four limbs. Despite Qureshi's bragging about his wealthy background, three of his carers told Daily Mail Australia they didn't get paid for their shifts. They say they were told their work hadn't been up to par, they were too inexperienced, and said that the way the NDIS is set up allows for this to happen. Another former NDIS worker, who helped look after Qureshi in 2021, said she got an angry reaction when she complained about not getting paid. She said she found him 'very passive-aggressive' and said the NDIS did nothing to ensure payment, except to the person on the scheme. 'When I didn't get paid, he intimated that it was kind of my fault,' said one carer. 'The problem is the NDIS allows for you not to be paid, so I was owed about $1000 and never go it.' A male worker said Qureshi told him that 'he didn't like certain people among the support workers who came there'. Sohail Qureshi lives on the NDIS in a $1million apartment on the Gold Coast where young female support workers have alleged he sexually assaulted them, while also claiming to be rich and 'a king' Qureshi declined to comment to Daily Mail Australia on the allegations. The NDIS told Daily Mail Australia the safety of carers was a priority. But it admitted the NDIS cannot help if a worker doesn't get paid and must pursue it through the Commonwealth Ombudsman. 'Worker safety and wellbeing is a key part of delivering quality and safe supports to NDIS participants,' it added in a statement 'NDIS workers have the right to feel safe when they are at work. 'NDIS providers are responsible for providing safe workplaces. This includes identifying and managing risks to worker safety and wellbeing, such as worker-related violence. 'Our regulatory arrangements work alongside other legal requirements that apply to NDIS providers, such as the regulation of workplace matters. 'The NDIS Commission works closely with other regulators and bodies where matters relate to workplace laws and disability support worker issues, both at a systemic and individual worker level.'
