Man murdered after argument: police

An argument over missing property is believed to be what sparked an alleged stabbing murder of a man in a unit in far north Queensland.

Police were called to a block of units on Winkworth Street in the Cairns suburb of Bungalow on Friday morning and found a 53-year-old man with a single stab wound.

An ambulance was called, but the man died on the way to the hospital.

David Savage, 49, was questioned overnight and charged with the man's murder on Saturday.

The ABC reports Savage appeared at the Cairns Magistrates Court and was remanded in custody until June 3.

Inspector Bruce Asnicar says Savage, who was not known to the police, lived at the Bungalow unit, but the victim was a regular visitor.

"In general terms it was an argument - a silly argument - over property and it certainly didn't need this kind of response," he said.

Three other people have also been questioned by police but Insp Asnicar could not say if charges were pending against them.

He said he did not know if they had been released.

Five scientific officers have been flown to Cairns to assist with the investigation and the property remains a crime scene, he said.

"Violent crime anywhere is a concern and it's something I particularly concentrate on here in the far north," Insp Asnicar said.

"We have so many strategies in place to try and prevent these things from happening."

It is now the second time in two years that a dead man has been found at the address.

Police were called to the same building in July 2013 and found the body of a 43-year-old man outside.

That victim had no obvious injuries aside from some swelling to the face.

A 31-year-old man from Atherton was later charged with manslaughter.