The Courts Arson charge hearing

Press, 10 July 1979, Page 4

The Courts Arson charge hearing

1 A man, aged 47, who is alleged to have counselled or procured an unknown person to deliberately set lire to hisi Christchurch home, faced a| lower court hearing of hisi charge yesterday. Depositions of 20 of the 24; witnesses to be called were; heard yesterday before Mr; N. L. Bradford. S.M. The case] will continue today. The defendant, who was) granted interim suppression, of his name, was charged; that on January 2, together; with a person or persons un-1 known, he wilfully set fire toi his dwelling. Mr N. W. Williamson isi conducting the prosecution! case, and Mr R. J. Gilbert,! Q.C., of Dunedin, appears tor: ithe defendant. Mr Williamson, outlining I the prosecution’s case, said; | the defendant was charged; with arson on the basis that 1 !he counselled or procured a! iperson, whose identity was' still n’ot known, to deliber-i ately set fire to the house. ' ' The prosecution’s case was,; broadly, that the defendant’s! involvement was the only' reasonable- inference to be drawn from all the circumstances. While reliance would bej

placed on the cumulative effect of the circumstances,! particular reference was 1 made to the evidence to be! given that the defendant’s: car and vans were parked very close to the house at the] time of the fire. The fire was deliberately: lit, and the defendant was in, financial difficulties and the! property was over-insured. ! Publication of a fourth: point refered to by Mr Wil-: liamson was prohibited in the! meantime. Mr Gilbert said he intended to challenge the admissibility of the evidence relating to this matter.