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Australian man charged with arson | Australian man charged with arson |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Australian police have charged a man with lighting one of the country's deadly bushfires. | |
The 39-year-old was charged with arson causing death, for lighting a fire near Churchill in eastern Victoria state. The blaze killed at least 21 people. | |
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has described Australia's deadliest bushfires as mass murder. | Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has described Australia's deadliest bushfires as mass murder. |
At least 181 people were killed as the fires swept through Victoria in south-east Australia at the weekend. | At least 181 people were killed as the fires swept through Victoria in south-east Australia at the weekend. |
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged on two counts of arson. | |
He faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison for the deadly arson charge, and a maximum of 15 years for the second arson charge. | |
He also faces unrelated charges of possessing child pornography. | He also faces unrelated charges of possessing child pornography. |
See map of fires | See map of fires |
He did not appear in court in Morwell to hear the charges. His lawyer has described him as psychologically unwell and in a fragile mental state. | He did not appear in court in Morwell to hear the charges. His lawyer has described him as psychologically unwell and in a fragile mental state. |
Marysville's journey to hell | Marysville's journey to hell |
After being remanded in custody, the man was transferred to the state capital Melbourne, police say for his own safety because of public anger. | After being remanded in custody, the man was transferred to the state capital Melbourne, police say for his own safety because of public anger. |
He will appear in court there on Monday. | He will appear in court there on Monday. |
Victoria Police Commissioner Christine Nixon has said it was possible a devastating blaze that killed at least 15 people in the town of Marysville was also the work of arsonists. | Victoria Police Commissioner Christine Nixon has said it was possible a devastating blaze that killed at least 15 people in the town of Marysville was also the work of arsonists. |
Marysville - a town that was virtually wiped out - remains cordoned off. | Marysville - a town that was virtually wiped out - remains cordoned off. |
Investigators are still scouring the town where 80% of buildings were destroyed, and they had not been able to identify and remove all bodies, State Premier John Brumby said. | Investigators are still scouring the town where 80% of buildings were destroyed, and they had not been able to identify and remove all bodies, State Premier John Brumby said. |
In other developments: | In other developments: |
⢠Two men questioned in connection with allegations of looting in a fire-hit area have been released without charge | |
⢠Police have published a photo-fit of a man wanted for questioning over a suspicious fire that started on Thursday in the Melbourne suburb of Ivanhoe. The fire has been brought under control | |
⢠Firefighters are still trying to battle at least a dozen different blazes | |
⢠The tally of homes destroyed is now more than 1,800, and the number of people left homeless more than 7,000 | |
⢠The Australian government plans to hold a national day of mourning and has promised to remove bureaucratic hurdles that have prevented the creation of a nationwide fire alert system. | |
⢠More than 150 actors, sports stars, politicians and musicians have taken part in a fundraising telethon. | |
Click here to return | Click here to return |
Have you ever visited Marysville or Kinglake? Do you have pictures of your visits? | Have you ever visited Marysville or Kinglake? Do you have pictures of your visits? |
Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here |
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