Thursday 8 JanuaryThu 8 Jan 2026 at 4:03am

Brayden Thomas Thurston was pulled from the Balonne River before he died later in St George Hospital on December 29. (ABC Southern Qld: Tobi Loftus)

In short: 

Loganlea man Jordan Weribone, 31, was arrested in Armidale by New South Wales Police and charged with the murder of 24-year-old Brayden Thomas Thurston.

Police allege Mr Thurston died hours after he was pulled from the Balonne River in St George, Queensland, on December 29.

What's next?

Mr Weribone will be extradited to Queensland and face the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Friday. 

A Queensland man will be extradited from New South Wales over the alleged murder of a 24-year-old man in a border community late last month.

Loganlea man Jordan Weribone, 31, was arrested by New South Wales Police at a property in Armidale and charged with the murder of 24-year-old Brayden Thomas Thurston.

Police allege Mr Thurston was pulled from the Balonne River on December 29, 2025, and was taken to St George Hospital where he died a short time later.

Mr Weribone appeared before the bail division local court via video link on Thursday, where he did not apply for bail and bail was formally refused.

Jordan Weribone was arrested by Armidale Police on Wednesday and charged with murder. (Supplied: NSW Police)

The court was told Queensland Police were seeking his extradition from Armidale to Toowoomba, where he would face one count of murder.

Solicitor Anthony Stewart, acting on behalf of Mr Weribone, told the court his client understood he "has no choice" but to go back to Queensland to face the charge.

"He strongly denies it [the alleged murder] but … it's just going to go through the motions for him, noting the seriousness of the charge [and] allegations," Mr Stewart said.

Acting Magistrate Raymond Plibersek granted the extradition and ordered the matter be adjourned to the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Friday.

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