FAMILY and friends of John Windle, the man stabbed to death on Macleay Island on Monday, hugged each other and cried after a woman appeared in court charged with his murder.
Mr Windle’s three children Tiarne, 17, Tahlia, 13, and Isaac, 11, two former partners and other family members sat quietly in the public gallery while 41-year-old Renee Helen Blockey was remanded in custody.
Before police brought Ms Blockey into the court, magistrate Deborah Vasta told the 10 family members and friends it was not the time or place to lose composure.
She said police officers would remove anyone who caused a disturbance.
Four police officers sat across the aisle from family members who remained silent in court.
Ms Vasta said she had no power other than to adjourn the matter for a committal hearing.
Ms Blockey was not required to enter a plea.
She will appear via video link in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on June 4.
Outside the court family members and friends said the impact of Mr Windle’s death had struck them after they left court.
Former partner Mieke Crocker said Mr Windle was a larrikin who made everyone laugh.
“He had a circle of friends who loved him,” she said.
“Everything was a joke. He never took life seriously.”
Former partner Sally Hill said she was concerned about their three children.
“No kid deserves to lose a dad,” she said.
They said Mr Windle had been using crutches after a leg operation.
Mr Windle lived at Ipswich before moving to Macleay Island in January last year. He had been a forklift driver and warehouse storeman but was not working at the time of his death.
A family member said Mr Windle’s mother lived in Sydney and had lost a daughter a year ago.
Police found Mr Windle deceased inside a house on High Central Road after responding to an incident about midday on Monday.
Ms Crocker set up a crowdfunding page at gofundme.com/5g2obts to raise money for Mr Windle’s daughters and other family members to attend his funeral to be held in Sydney.