Hope Island: Second man is charged over fatal car park stabbing with cops revealing ‘the reason’ for alleged murder of William Swinbourne

Police will say a young Gold Coast man was killed in a drug robbery gone wrong, as a second person has been charged over his death.

William Swinbourne, 21, was found with a single stab wound in the car park of Hope Island Shopping Center shortly after 2pm on March 11.

Despite the efforts of paramedics, he died instantly, the incident sparking a massive manhunt in the popular tourist destination.

Hours later, Haedyn Patrick Zachary Rawson was arrested at a nearby construction site.

The 23-year-old award-winning private schoolboy was later charged with murder, while a second man was released by police without charge.

On Wednesday, Queensland Police revealed a second man, aged 24, had been re-arrested and charged with murder and robbery.

They said Rawson would now also face a robbery charge.

Detective Inspector Mark Mooney said the charges were brought following an “extensive review” of CCTV, phone and social media footage.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, he said detectives now believe the two defendants had planned to rob Mr Swinbourne of a “small usable quantity of drugs”.

“We have continued to thoroughly investigate this matter and we now have a much clearer picture of what happened before, during and after the incident,” he said.

“Police will allege that these two men were implicit in planning this robbery which ultimately led to this incident at Hope Island.”

Inspector Mooney said it would be alleged Rawson inflicted the fatal injury but the second man was “implicit” in the plan.

He said police believe the two men exchanged messages on the day of the incident, allegedly arranging the robbery.

The second man was initially released without charge, he said, because police understood there was only one person involved in the physical act – adding that the 24-year-old had “cooperated with the police all the time.”

The Hope Island man is expected to appear at Southport Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday afternoon.

Police will claim in court that Rawson was armed with a kitchen knife while having a drink at the Boardwalk Tavern before stabbing Mr Swinbourne in his car.

Rawson and Mr Swinbourne are said to have met at a Fred Again concert two days before the incident.

The private school graduate was refused bail and is due to reappear at Southport Magistrates Court later this month.

In a social media post, Mr Swinbourne’s partner Kaysie Tooth paid tribute to the young man.

“I love you to the moon and back, in this life and in the next and in all those that follow,” she said.

“I always look at pictures of you, my love.”

Inspector Mooney said Mr Swinbourne’s family had been informed of the developments and were delighted but distraught.

The case is still ongoing.