Police have charged a 39-year-old woman from Maleny on Queensland's Sunshine Coast with manslaughter over the death of 63-year-old Colin Hastie, who police allege suffered a "prolonged assault" by the woman he knew.
Officers were called to a Macadamia Drive home where Mr Hastie was found slumped on his front steps about midday yesterday, by a teenager delivering pamphlets, who alerted other locals.
The man was taken to Maleny Hospital were he later died.
Detective Senior Sergeant Daren Edwards said police believed the pair were not involved in a romantic relationship.
"The woman was from Maleny. They are known to each other whilst not in a relationship," Detective Senior Sergeant Edwards said.
"Unfortunately the male has succumbed to injuries during a prolonged assault … that's what we will allege.
"One of the allegations is that the male has died from injuries inflicted by that woman.
"It's very extraordinary for Maleny — it's certainly an exception to the normal lifestyle around Maleny."
Detective Senior Sergeant Edwards said the man was spotted on the front stair area of the house by a teenager delivering pamphlets.
"He saw there was obvious serious injuries to the male and was alarmed and contacted his mother who was a nurse and attended the address," Detective Senior Sergeant Edwards said.
"Consequently a neighbour was also alerted and contacted QAS who responded from Maleny.
"He was known to quite a lot of people in Maleny and he'd lived for sometime at that address where he lived a fairly quiet lifestyle."
Maleny woman Danielle Sheryl Erica Beutel, 39, has been charged with one count of manslaughter.
She was remanded in custody when the matter was dealt with briefly in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court this morning.
The case will return to court on May 1.
Police investigate separate death in central Queensland
Meanwhile, detectives are investigating another suspicious death of a man at Depot Hill in central Queensland overnight.
The 56-year-old man was found with facial injuries at a home on Campbell Street about 9:30pm.
Detective Acting Inspector Luke Peachey said the man lived in a makeshift bedroom as a boarder under the house for about a year
"Due to the circumstances, a crime scene has now been declared and police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding that death," Detective Acting Inspector Luke Peachey said.
"He had a number of injuries, at this stage we're unsure what the actual cause of the death is. An autopsy will give us a clearer idea of what has occurred."
He said one of the residents of the address notified police.
"We have no clear idea how long he'd been there for," he said.
"Obviously [the other residents were] shaken up, we'll obviously offer them support services as we do but obviously we'll work very closely with them, hopefully get a clearer picture of what's going on.
"Very disturbing for those people."
