Queensland Police have sensationally dropped murder charges against a man who was just hours earlier accused of killing a couple found dead in their burnt-out home.
Queensland Police said they had on Sunday released a 28-year-old Goodna man and dropped all charges against him.
Just hours earlier, they announced that he had been charged with two counts of homicide and one count of arson over the deaths of Joe and Christine Stephan.
The couple were found dead inside Ipswich home, west of Brisbane, on January 23.
The man was said to have been an “associate” of the couple and was due to appear at Richlands Magistrates Court on Monday.
However, Queensland Police on Sunday afternoon said that they had released the man due to new information.
“Following investigations conducted this afternoon and new information provided to police, investigators have discontinued proceedings against a 28-year-old Goodna man, while this information is examined further,” Queensland Police said in a statement.
“The decision to prefer charges in a criminal investigation is dependent upon all facets of the evidence provided to police and the decision to charge someone is only made taking into account the strength of the information and evidence.
“Conversely, the decision to discontinue proceedings is only made when new or additional evidence/information is provided to police.
“There is an obligation on police to fully examine this information and assess it against other known facts.”
The couple were found inside their Collingwood Park home after emergexjmtzywncy services were called to the scene to extinguish a blaze.
Detective Inspector Heath McQueen on Sunday said the couple had died as the result of “an act of violence” and were not killed in the blaze.
After the man was released from custody, police said their investigation was ongoing and they were urging anyone with information to come forward.
They were seeking information about a green dual cab ute and a black Mercedes.
“The investigation is continuing with police appealing to anyone who may have dashcam footage and who were in the vicinity of Kruger Shopping Village Redbank Plains, Kruger Parade, Burrell Street and Hannant Street at Collingwood Park between 8am and 11am on Saturday, January 22,” police said.
