Breakthrough on 2002 Qld homeless murder

Gold Coast detectives believe they've solved the 2002 murder of a homeless man at Surfer's Paradise.

They've commenced proceedings to charge a 40-year-old man with murder, almost 12 years after the body of Daniel Edgar Stone, 47, was found at a local car park.

Mr Stone was brutally attacked with a metal water meter cover, while he was sleeping.

Police say a 40-year-old Gold Coast man, who is in custody, will be formally charged with murder during a scheduled appearance at the Southport Magistrates Court on March 4.

Mr Stone's death has long baffled police, although they arrested two people shortly afterward his body was found on March 9, 2002.

Police charged a 45-year-old man and a 16-year-old male over Mr Stone's murder that year, but withdrew the charges in 2003.