One of the men who died in a pool of his own blood has been identified as detectives focus on self-defence as a potential motive for the fatal stabbings in north Queensland.
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Two men died in the middle of Topton Street in Alva, about 95 kilometres south-east of Townsville, after a disturbance at a residence about 12.30am on Monday.
Police said a 29-year-old woman sought help from a 19-year-old male resident after she was injured in an earlier incident. Police have not provided details on what happened in the earlier incident.
A group of men followed the woman to the teenager's house, a fight broke out, and the two men died at the scene from stab wounds.
Detective Inspector Chris Lawson said the investigation into the deaths was ongoing and a report would be prepared for the coroner after self-defence had become a focus.
"At this stage, it’s a complex investigation and that [self-defence] is one of the options that we’re looking at and trying to establish and work around as an investigative team," he said.
"We do have a picture of what has occurred but the way in which it occurred is still under investigation."
A 27-year-old New South Wales man was one of the men who died. He has now been identified as Thomas Davy from Tea Gardens on the NSW mid-coast, according to the Newcastle Herald.
Mr Davy’s family rushed from his hometown to Queensland on Monday after they received news of the tragedy.
The other slain man has been identified as 37-year-old Corey Christensen, who was an Alva local.
The 19-year-old resident of the home where the stabbing took place was taken into custody and questioned over the deaths but was released without charge on Tuesday afternoon.
Inspector Lawson said the teenage resident did not know the two men who died on his property but detectives have not ruled out laying charges against the 19-year-old in the future.
Inspector Lawson said the role of alcohol in the incident was also an angle being investigated.
Police have spoken to the 29-year-old woman who the men followed to the house as she remains in hospital with a non-life threatening shoulder injury.
Inspector Lawson described her as a "witness" and said police had not identified any other persons of interest. He said it was not clear if the injured woman knew the deceased.
Officers and paramedics were confronted by a horrific, bloody scene when they were called to the sleepy seaside town.
"You are talking about the dead of night where it's dark, people with those sorts of injuries in the middle of the street," Inspector Lawson said.
The tiny coastal town of Alva has a population of less than 250 people and sits about an hour’s drive south-east of Townsville.
The region’s member in Queensland Parliament, Dale Last, told the Newcastle Herald the incident had “sent a shock wave” through the “sleepy, seaside community” which was mainly made up of families and retirees.
“For this to happen is just unbelievable,” he said.
“There’s just absolute disbelief that something as violent as this could happen in our backyard.”
- with AAP
