A man has been charged with murder after a 70-year-old was allegedly killed and his body set on fire at a rural property.

Police officers discovered human remains during a welfare check at a property on Stock Rd, Dimbulah, about two hours west of Cairns in Far North Queensland, about 8pm on March 24.

A 37-year-old Dimbulah man has since been charged over the death, which police allege occurred the night before, on March 23.

Police allege the death followed an altercation between the two men at the Stock Rd home that evening.

“What happened exactly during that altercation and what led to the 70-year-old man’s death is still part of an ongoing investigation,” Detective Inspector Jason Chetham said.

The pair, who were related through marriage, were both living at the rural property, police said.

Chetham said officers arrived to a confronting scene.

“When police attended there on Tuesday, March 24, there was a fire burning on that property and police saw what they believe were human remains and they took immediate action to attempt to recover them and to extinguish that fire,” he said.

Police will allege the victim was burned after he was killed.

The accused man was taken into custody in Mareeba about 2pm on March 31 and taken to the Mareeba Watch House.

He has been charged with one count of murder and one count of misconduct with a corpse by interfering. Both are classified as domestic violence offences.

Police allege the two men were the only occupants of the property.

Chetham described the investigation as extensive and praised officers and forensic teams involved.

“It’s been an intensive, week-long investigation and we’re glad it’s come to this point in time,” he said.

He also thanked the public for assisting police appeals for information, which he said had been vital in progressing the case.

Despite the charges laid, police are continuing to appeal for anyone with information to come forward.

“It’s a tight-knit community up there in Dimbulah, it’s only a small community,” Chetham said.

“If anyone has any information they think may be relevant to this, even though an arrest has been made, we certainly would welcome them to come forward.”

The 37-year-old has been remanded in custody and is due to appear in Mareeba Magistrates Court on Wednesday.