A former prison officer charged with three 1978 Queensland outback murders has faced court in Brisbane.

April 13, 2019

The man accused of the 1978 Queensland outback murders of Karen Edwards, Timothy Thomson and Gordon Twaddle has faced court for the first time.

Bruce John Preston, 63, has been charged with three counts of murder, more than 40 years after the first of three bodies was found in remote bushland near Mount Isa.

The former Goulburn prison officer wasn’t required to appear in the Brisbane Magistrate’s Court on Saturday and was remanded in custody.

Outside court, his lawyer Russell Pearce said Preston would be fighting the charges.

Ms Edwards, 23, Mr Thomson, 31, and Mr Twaddle, 21, were last seen on the morning of October 5 following their arrival in Mt Isa.

The trio were on a motorcycle adventure from Alice Springs to Melbourne.

Mr Thomson and Mr Twaddle were family friends from New Zealand and shared a passion for motorcycles.

Ms Edwards was Mr Thomson’s girlfriend.

Once they reached Cairns, the friends planned to head south to Melbourne for Christmas with family.

They never made it.

After their last sighting in the Moondurra Caravan Park, their bodies were found 19 days later in bushland near Spear Creek, 12 km north of Mount Isa.

All three died from gunshot wounds.

Preston had been a person of interest, charged with stealing Tim’s motorcycle in 1978 for which he was convicted and fined $300.

On Friday, Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell said the families of the victims had been told of the charges and were “relieved” by the outcome.

“We believe that there are still witnesses out there who hold vital information and we appeal for those persons to come forward,” she said.

Detective Kentwell said the accused was “surprised” by the arrest, but would not comment on a motive other than that he was known to the victims before October 5.

Preston is due reappear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on May 20.