New CCTV footage has been released just before an elderly man was beaten to death on his early morning walk – as police beg witnesses to come forward
- Police are urging any witnesses to the murder to come forward
- John Kerr, 87, was found last Sunday with serious facial injuries
- Authorities have released a vision of a man walking near the crime scene
CCTV footage of a man walking near a crime scene has been released by police in a desperate bid to find witnesses after an 87-year-old was beaten to death near a popular beach.
The footage also revealed that three cars were nearby when John Kerr was killed at about 6am last Sunday in Noosa Heads, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Mr Kerr was out on his early morning walk when he was randomly attacked on the promenade of Hastings Street.
Police are calling on witnesses – whom police said have nothing to do with the death – to come forward immediately.
“These people are not suspected in any way. We only know that they have been in the area that time,” Sunshine Coast Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Mansfield told me. ABC.
CCTV footage showed a possible witness (pictured) to a murder walking along a path in Noosa Heads
Bystanders discovered Mr Kerr (pictured) face-up on a concrete pad in Hastings Street with serious injuries to his face
“They could be people who haven’t been watching the local news, so we hope this release of footage can help us identify these people.”
The video showed a man walking down a path near trees at 6 a.m. wearing a blue long-sleeved hoodie, black shorts, a cap and thongs near the spot where Mr. Kerr died.
Another video showed a white Toyota hatchback, a green Holden hatchback and a dark colored saloon driving down Hastings Street to the incident between 5:15am and 5:50am.
Bystanders discovered Mr Kerr face-up on a concrete pad in Hastings Street with serious injuries to his face.
They tried to help him, but Mr. Kerr died shortly after emergency services were called to the scene.
Meanwhile, Ryo Jay Anan – who was unknown to Mr Kerr – was arrested after being found naked on Noosa beach 100 yards away.
The 27-year-old spent that night in custody helping detectives with their investigation before he was later charged in a separate incident – the alleged serious assault of 69-year-old Alan Beech in Hastings Street around the same time.
The Gympie man is a person who has a stake in Mr. Kerr’s death, but has not been charged with the attack.
Daily Mail Australia does not suggest that Mr Anan is responsible in any way.
The video showed a white Toyota hatchback (pictured) seen before the incident
A black sedan (pictured) was also caught on camera driving down Hastings Street
Police cordoned off the crime scene in Noosa Heads on Sunday (pictured)
Noosa Golf Club managing director Allan Harris said Kerr had been a ‘loved and respected’ member for the past 28 years.
“We’re all struggling with the whole incident,” he told the Courier Mail.
Police said officers will be at the scene on Sunday morning to find new witnesses.
Authorities previously urged anyone who saw a naked or partially clothed man anywhere near the northern end of Hastings Street or in the Noosa Woods area between 5am and 7am to contact police.
