Draft:Murder of Howard Hobson

Howard Hobson (20 January 1949 – 20 January 2004) was a homeless Aboriginal Australian man who was murdered in Cairns, Queensland, Australia on his 55th birthday on 20 January 2004.

Hobson's murder remains unsolved and a $250,000 is still on offer for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of his killer.

Murder
Originally from Lockhart River, Hobson was described as a quiet man who kept to himself while living on the streets around the Cairns CBD.

At 1:30am on 20 January 2004, Hobson was discovered by two Cairns City Council workers on a footpath in Wharf Street, Cairns unconscious and bleeding from a severe wound to the head.

He was taken to Cairns Base Hospital where he died later that morning.

Investigation
An autopsy revealed Hobson had been bludgeoned at approximately 12:40am on 20 January 2004, most likely with a solid object. Police believe the attack was unprovoked. While a suspect was identified early in the investigation, there was insufficient evidence for an arrest.

No murder weapon has ever been located, and no witnesses have ever come forward. In 2017, Hobson's murder was described by police as an "ongoing protracted cold case".

Reward
Since 2006, a reward of $250,000 has been on offer for information which leads to the apprehension and conviction of those responsible for Hobson's murder. Additionally, any accomplice who wasn't the person who actually committed the murder is offered indemnity from prosecution.

While discussing the reward in 2006, Queensland minister for police Judy Spence described the murder as a "callous and brutal assault on a homeless indigenous man".