A HAMILTON man is alleged to have bragged to an undercover police operative that it took just one match to burn down his neighbour’s home.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Simon Cross, 33, now of Mackinnons Bridge Road, Noorat, yesterday appeared in the first day of a two-day Warrnambool Magistrates Court committal hearing.
He has been charged with two counts of arson and making a threat to kill.
In a police summary of evidence, it was revealed Mr Cross was arrested by Hamilton officers on November 26, 2013, and placed in the Hamilton police station cells.
Just after 4pm that day registered Victoria Police covert operative ‘Kosta’ was placed in the cells with Mr Cross.
Conversations were both audio and videotaped and police allege Mr Cross made admissions to lighting two fires in Scoresby Street, one at a neighbour’s house on June 16, 2012, and the other at his parents’ home on November 12, 2013.
Mr Cross initially denied being involved in torching his parents’ home, saying he was in Geelong.
But according to the police summary, Mr Cross detailed to the undercover agent placing half a firelighter at the north-east corner of the front porch and setting it alight.
Mr Cross is alleged to have told the undercover agent he was sure the house was insured for fire and flood damage.
He said he collected all the cigarette lighters in the house and threw them in a bin as it was garbage collection day.
He disposed of a packet of firelighters while driving 20 kilometres west of the family’s Hamilton home.
Mr Cross is alleged to have told the operative he got rid of any evidence.
He said he cleaned the car, even vacuuming under the seats to make sure there was no residue.
Later in the conversation with the operative, Mr Cross denied his involvement in the fire at his family home.
Mr Cross also allegedly told the police agent he had got away with lighting a fire at his neighbour’s property which destroyed a home.
He allegedly said the old lady who owned the property was “really pissing him off” and “giving him the shits” so he decided to burn down her house.
It’s claimed Mr Cross said he walked up on to the verandah at night, there was old newspapers and other items and it took just one match to completely destroy the building.
Police allege Mr Cross knew the woman and her daughter were not home, that he was “f...ing mad” and the property owner had been annoying him for years, and at the time of the conversation the house was being rebuilt.
The evidence of the covert operative was yesterday given in a closed court to protect his identity.
A number of other witnesses are expected to appear before magistrate Peter Mellas decides, probably today, whether there is enough evidence for the case to go to the Warrnambool County Court.