Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/13/2491107.htm
A man accused of lighting the Churchill-Jeerelang bushfire in Gippsland, in Victoria's east has been remanded in custody.The fire started in plantation near Churchill on Saturday and quickly spread to nearby communities. Twenty-one people are confirmed to have died in that fire.
The man was arrested this morning and taken to the Morwell police station where he was questioned for several hours. He has been charged with one count of arson causing death, one count of intentionally lighting a bushfire and one count of possessing child pornography.
The man did not appear in court.
The court heard the man is in a fragile mental state and magistrate Clive Alsop made an order that he be assessed by a psychologist.The man will appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday.
Assistant Police Commissioner Dannye Maloney says the man has been moved to Melbourne due to security concerns."People are pointing fingers, people are jumping to conclusions, rumours and innuendos are ebbing... we do not need that," he said. "Let Victoria Police do its role, we identified this person, we are prosecuting this person on behalf of the community."
Police are still urging anyone with any information on the fires across the state to come forward.
The total bushfire death toll stands at 181.
Subscribe To
Posts
Comments