A man killed when an argument allegedly turned physical at a north Queensland taxi rank appeared to do very little to retaliate to a flurry of punches, police say.
The 28-year local man died at the scene after the fight broke out in Innisfail at 2.20am AEST on Saturday.
A 30-year-old man has been charged with murder and appeared in Innisfail Magistrates Court on Saturday.
He allegedly punched the deceased in the side of his head multiple times when the altercation became physical.
Acting Detective Inspector Kevin Goan said early investigations suggest the offender "appeared intent on having an altercation" with the deceased who did little to retaliate or defend himself.
"It's certainly different to a one punch attack, there was an exchange of some sort between the two gentlemen verbally and then the altercation has occurred where a volume of punches were thrown," he said.
"The deceased has stood up from that first onset and then has succumbed to further blows from the person who has now been charged with his murder."
Police were called to the taxi rank and found the 28-year-old man unresponsive.
They administered CPR but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The cause of death is unknown.
Insp Goan said the two men may have been at the Crown Hotel before the altercation.
He said a number of people waiting for taxis at the time were assisting police with the investigation.
