A 19-year-old man accused of stabbing his father to death on Palm Island will remain behind bars after appearing in the Magistrates Court in Townsville.
Nathaniel James Murray has been charged with murder.
Due to the charge he was not able to apply for bail during a brief mention this morning.
His lawyers asked for the matter referred to the mental health court.
The stabbing allegedly happened after an altercation at a family gathering on Palm Island on Monday afternoon.
Police arrived at a Farm Road property to find the 52-year-old man with stab wounds to his neck.
He was transported to the Palm Island hospital and flown to Townsville for further treatment, but died later that evening.
Mr Murray was arrested and charged shortly afterwards.
Investigators spent yesterday searching the area for the murder weapon, believed to be a pair of scissors.
Detectives remain on the island.
Friends and relatives have expressed support for the family on Facebook urging them to stay strong and have posted tributes to a man who "always stopped and said hello no matter what".
Mr Murray is due to appear in court on January 12.
