Stanthorpe Firearms Stash Could Be Linked to a 1997 Murder

A man with alleged links to the cold-case murder of Philip Carlyle has faced a Queensland court on weapons charges.

The 66-year-old Reedy Creek man appeared before a Southport Magistrate yesterday charged with major firearms offences relating to the possession of illegal firearms and failure to secure ammunition properly.

Police were investigating the 1997 murder of Mr Carlyle and will allege they discovered a number of firearms during the search.

They located 11 handguns, two semi-automatic rifles, three rifle barrels and over 10,000 rounds of ammunition buried on a property near Stanthorpe on August 5.

John Hitchen was granted bail after making a brief appearance before the court.  He is due back in court in November.