Robinson, a cheerleader for the Gold Coast Titans, was allegedly thrown off 11th-floor balcony of luxury Southport apartment

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

A man has been charged with murdering Breeana Robinson, a cheerleader who plunged to her death from a luxury high-rise apartment in Southport in 2013.

A 45-year-old Nerang man will face Southport Magistrates Court’s on Saturday charged with one count each of murder, damaging evidence with intent and attempted fraud.

Breeana Robinson, 21, died when she plunged from the balcony of a luxury Southport apartment owned by her boyfriend Dan Shearin in January 2013.

Officers say newly acquired opinions from two biomechanics experts - that Robinson, who was legally blind, was thrown from the balcony - played a big part in the arrest.

The charge of damaging evidence would relate to allegations the man deleted text messages about what occurred during a domestic incident on the night Robinson died.

The detective would not speculate on the motive for the alleged murder

Police reopened the probe into Robinson’s death in late 2017, as an inquest into her death was due to be held. But the coroner asked detectives to re-examine key evidence, including statements from medical experts.

Gold Coast police Detective Inspector Brendan Smith said the arrest was the result of years of dogged police work.

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“The investigative team has left no stone unturned in identifying the circumstances of Breeana’s death, demonstrating the passage of time is no escape for offenders,” he said.

“Whilst investigations are ongoing, it is hoped Breeana’s family get some small comfort in seeing someone been brought to account for her death.”

Breeana Robinson’s aunt, Janine Mackney, has been at every court hearing about her niece’s death.

She always carried pink roses and photos of her young, bubbly niece - often depicting her wearing her Gold Coast Titans cheerleading outfit - to remind people who Breeana was.

As she waited for another court hearing on Friday, Mackney said she has a sense of pride after consistently fighting for coronial investigations and a re-examination of the case.

“People don’t know how hard this has been. I am proud of myself for this fight,” Mackney said.