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Supermarket shelves stripped bare as Tropical Cyclone Alfred inches closer

Supermarket shelves along the south-east Queensland coast have been stripped bare as Tropical Cyclone Alfred inches closer to the coastline.

Images obtained by 9News show shelves emptied of water and bread as residents rush to stock up on supplies as the cyclone intensifies into a category 2 storm.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said the government was working with supermarkets, urging them to restock items multiple times a day.

READ MORE: Wild surf conditions and seven-metre swells as Tropical Cyclone Alfred drags boats to shoreline

Supermarket shelves along the south-east Queensland coast have been stripped bare as Tropical Cyclone Alfredinches closer to the coastline.

Crisafulli said it was important that everyone had access to the essentials.

"It is important that people find every opportunity to have those essentials, all your personal items in one place, do everything you can to prepare for the prospect of loss of power, for example," he said.

The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts the storm to tack south-east again today, from its current position about 465km north-east of Brisbane, before turning back towards the coast tomorrow or Wednesday.

The cyclone is expected to make landfall on Thursday or Friday, Steven Bernasconi from the Bureau said. If it makes landfall in a populated area of South East Queensland, it will be the first to do so in 50 years.

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Supermarket shelves along the south-east Queensland coast have been stripped bare as Tropical Cyclone Alfredinches closer to the coastline.

A Coles spokesperson told 9news.com.au that they were working "tirelessly to ensure all stores are well stocked as Cyclone Alfred approaches".

"We have extra deliveries on the roads already, with a focus on boosting our supply of meat, milk, bread, water, canned goods, baby formula and toilet paper," the spokesperson said.

"This preparation began last week, and will continue this week.

"While this is the first cyclone to hit this area in more 50-years, we are well prepared to ensure we can continue serving communities affected by these wild weather events. We will work closely with government and local authorities as the impacts from Cyclone Alfred unfold."

A Woolworths spokesperson said it was sending additional stock from the "Brisbane Regional Distribution Centre to stores across the Sunshine Coast and South East Queensland".

"We will continue to work closely with the local and state governments and authorities to ensure we can continue to support the community," the spokesperson said.

"As customers prepare for the cyclone, we ask them to be mindful of others in the community and buy only what they need."

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Couple found guilty of former son-in-law’s murder raise idea of mystery shooter

A couple found guilty of shooting their former son-in-law in a premeditated murder in the driveway of his home claim an unknown person could have been the culprit.

Noelene June Jordan and Cedric Harper Jordan, both in their 70s, were sentenced to 22 years' jail in 2023 for murdering 36-year-old Shane Barker in 2009.

The married pair was motivated by ill-feelings towards Barker, who they believe was abusive towards their daughter and granddaughter.

READ MORE: 'Window is closing': Queenslanders urged to act as cyclone approaches coast

Noelene and Cedric Jordan were jailed for murdering Shane Barker. (Ethan James/AAP PHOTOS)

Barker, who lived in Campbell Town in Tasmania, was shot four times at night with sub-sonic bullets fired from a .22 calibre firearm fitted with a silencer.

A judge ruled the couple travelled from their home with common intent and Mr. Jordan, who had a lifetime of gun experience, fired the shots.

The Jordans have appealed their conviction on several grounds, including that the jury's guilty verdict was unsatisfactory.

They claim an alternative theory in the circumstantial case, in which the murder weapon has never been found, wasn't considered.

The same type of cartridge found at the scene of the murder was also discovered at the Jordan's holiday shack.

Mrs Jordan's lawyer Fran McCracken told Tasmania's Court of Criminal Appeal Barker may have once used the gun involved in his murder at the shack.

READ MORE: Shelves stripped bare as residents brace for first cyclone in 50 years

McCracken said the unregistered gun may have then changed hands and was used by a "third party" to kill Barker.

"Is it not asserted there is a particular offender or offenders pointed to by the Jordans," she said today.

"Merely the circumstances … they were both saying 'we don't know who it was but it was not me'."

Crown prosecutor Daryl Coates said it was "fanciful" to suggest somebody else killed Barker.

He said the Jordans had a very strong motive for murder, lied about their whereabouts and were placed in the area by phone data around the time of the killing.

There was also evidence at the trial the Jordans had access to a .22 unregistered rifle and Mr Jordan had said it would be a "good rifle to kill people with", Coates said.

Supreme Court of Tasmania in Hobart.

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Coates said ammunition found at the scene was the same as some found at the Jordans.

"The jury were properly satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that they committed this crime," he said.

The Jordans are also appealing on the grounds a "demonstration" at the trial was prejudicial and a relationship between a juror and a reserve juror may have impacted deliberations.

Barker and the Jordans' daughter Rachel had separated two-and-a-half years before the murder.

Sentencing Justice Robert Pearce said Mr and Mrs Jordan were highly protective of Rachel and their granddaughter and perceived Barker had behaved "very badly".

Justice Pearce said abuse claims were "improbable" but it wasn't an issue for the trial to decide.

A decision on the appeal will be made at a later date.

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Cruise ships diverted away from Brisbane as Cyclone Alfred looms

Two cruise ships have been diverted away from Brisbane as Cyclone Alfred moves towards the Queensland coast.

In an update this afternoon, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said that of three cruise ships currently off the state's coast, one will come into Brisbane, while the other two are now looking for a new port.

The Pacific Encounter is the liner still planning to dock in Brisbane, while the Queen Anne, which is currently on its maiden voyage, is one of the diverted vessels.

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"We are assisting them," Crisafulli said.

"I've just received some information only in the last couple of minutes: two of those are looking for alternative ports and we will assist them in that.

"One will be endeavouring to come into the Port of Brisbane and offloading those passengers.

"We will do everything we can to assist them in that regard as well as those other two."

Crisafulli did not identify which ships he was referring to.

The next three cruise ships that were due to dock at the Port of Brisbane are the Queen Anne (today), the Pacific Encounter (tomorrow), and the Norweigan Sun (Wednesday).

The Queen Anne, which as of 4pm (AEDT) was several hundred kilometres north of Brisbane, is now making for Airlie Beach instead of the Queensland capital.

"Over the past few days, Queen Anne has been closely monitoring Cyclone Alfred, which has been causing strong winds and rough seas along the Queensland coast," a spokesperson from operator Cunard told 9news.com.au.

READ MORE: Destructive 90km/h winds and 400mm of rain coming as Cyclone Alfred approaches

"Following the closure of Port of Brisbane due to the adverse weather yesterday, Queen Anne sailed directly to Airlie Beach where she will arrive on Tuesday, March 4th. She will then call into Yorkey's Knob on Thursday, March 6th.

"This adjustment of her itinerary allows the ship to arrive in Darwin one day earlier, on Monday, March 10th, for an overnight stay before she continues her maiden world voyage as planned."

The Pacific Encounter is still planning to dock in Brisbane tomorrow.

As of 4pm, it was just east of the Gold Coast, while the Norwegian Sun was in the Coral Sea south of New Caledonia.

9news.com.au has contacted cruise operators Carnival and Norwegian for comment.

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