Kiwi musician's accused killer is ex-soldier

New Zealand singer Tony Lee Williams who was found dead in an apartment on the Gold Coast. Photo / Supplied

The Australian man charged with the murder of New Zealander Tony Williams in Queensland last Christmas is believed to be an ex-soldier.

Mr Williams, formerly of Tauranga, was found dead at the Mermaid Waters unit complex where he lived on the Gold Coast on Christmas Eve last year.

Yesterday Matthew Cox, 24, appeared in the local court at Port Macquarie, a beachside community just north of Sydney, where it was decided he would be extradited to Queensland to face the murder charge at the Southport Magistrates Court tomorrow.

Mr Williams, 38, was the lead singer of a band, Sex'N' Chocolate, which played weekly at a local nightclub. By day, he worked as an orderly at Gold Coast Hospital. He reportedly bedded hundreds of women, with police early in the investigation calling for all those women to come forward.

A post-mortem examination found Mr Williams had been beaten about the head and body with a blunt instrument.

The Gold Coast Bulletin today reported Cox was a member of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment in Townsville until he was discharged.

He also had a love for guns.

Cox was already known to police and was remanded on bail for a previous matter when he was arrested and charged with the murder on Tuesday.

It was understood Cox was a jealous former lover of one of the hundreds of woman Mr Williams had slept with.

Mr Hutchinson yesterday refused to comment on whether the murder was related to a love triangle.

Police would also not say whether a weapon had been found.