A man found dead in bushland near a Brisbane shopping centre has been identified as 48-year-old Andy Parker, as detectives investigate whether two dogs involved in a serious attack on a jogger may also have played a part in his death.
Mr Parker’s body was discovered near Kittyhawk Drive in Chermside at about midday on Sunday, October 18, only metres from the area where real estate agent Ajay Malik was attacked while running through 7th Brigade Park two days earlier.
Mr Malik, 37, suffered severe injuries to his face and both arms and was left fighting for his life after being attacked by the two dogs on Friday evening.
Initial post-mortem findings indicated Mr Parker died on Friday, although police have not established whether the animals contributed to his death or were involved after he had died.
Mr Parker was known to sleep rough in bushland adjoining Westfield Chermside, where makeshift camps had been established. His badly decomposed body was found in an open area lower than the surrounding bushland, meaning it may not have been visible from nearby.
Dogs surrendered to Brisbane City Council
Investigators are examining forensic evidence, including moulds taken from the dogs’ jaws and attempts to match their DNA with evidence from Mr Parker’s body.
The animals had come to Brisbane City Council’s attention in July, when officers suspected they had been abandoned. They were seized before later being returned to their owner, Layla Evans.
“There were no complaints made to council about those dogs,” Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said.
Ms Evans, 22, had been living in a tent in the park. She said the dogs had been secured inside before escaping. The animals, described as a bulldog-American Staffordshire terrier cross and a bulldog-boxer cross, have since been surrendered to the council.
Ms Evans was arrested on an unrelated matter shortly after Friday’s attack and had not been charged at the time of publication.
Police and State Emergency Service crews have been searching the parkland for clues, while the homicide investigation unit has been deployed to the area.
Mr Schrinner said the council had not received a request from police to keep the dogs beyond the 14-day destruction notice period. The owner could also face council penalties, separate from any potential criminal charges, with evidence gathered by police expected to inform the council’s decisions.
“Whether it’s one attack or two attacks, it’s a tragedy either way,” Mr Schrinner said.
He also called on the Queensland Government to examine crisis accommodation options for people experiencing homelessness who have pets.
“We don’t want to see people living in parks simply because they have a pet when there could be a home for them, there could accommodation for them,” he said.
Police have appealed for anyone who heard or saw anything unusual in the park between 4pm and 6pm on Friday to come forward.
