An elderly man tragically lost his life after allegedly being thrown off his balcony in Brisbane. Michael Thomas Chesworth, 74, was enjoying a quiet Sunday afternoon with his wife when he was reportedly attacked by a stranger. He fell approximately three-and-a-half meters from the first floor of his apartment complex in Yeronga, sustaining severe head injuries. Despite undergoing surgery at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, he sadly passed away.
The suspect, Raymond John Binge, 49, who was not acquainted with Mr. Chesworth, was arrested at the scene and charged with murder. According to a neighbor, Mr. Chesworth had recently received a cancer diagnosis, adding to the tragic nature of the incident.
Describing the attack as heartless and unprovoked, Queensland Police Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham expressed his shock and sadness during a press conference. Emergency services were called to the complex around 1:40 pm on Sunday, discovering Mr. Chesworth in critical condition on the concrete path. Police investigations revealed that Binge had been aggressively searching for specific items within the apartment block, but the nature of these items remains undisclosed.
It is understood that Binge confronted the victim at his doorstep, which led to a dispute between the two. Detective Superintendent Massingham stated, We allege the 49-year-old physically picked up the 74-year-old and threw him head-first over the railing. The accused did not reside in the building but was associated with someone who did.
As the investigation progresses, support is being provided to the victim’s devastated wife and witnesses who observed the tragic incident. Alcohol consumption is believed to have played a role, and authorities are encouraging any residents of the unit block who have not yet come forward to speak with detectives.
Raymond John Binge was due to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday to face the murder charge stemming from this shocking and senseless event. The community is left mourning the loss of Michael Thomas Chesworth, an elderly man who was simply enjoying a Sunday afternoon before his life was tragically taken away.
