AN EX-STUDENT accused of burning down a Tamworth high school classroom block, allegedly made admissions to sparking the inferno that left a $10.2 million damage bill.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
After a lengthy investigation by Oxley detectives and the State Crime Command’s Arson Squad, 21-year-old former student Christopher James King-Cougan fronted the dock of Tamworth Local Court yesterday, charged over the suspicious 2012 blaze at Oxley High School.
The charges come as the school community prepares to gather tonight for the official opening of the new classroom block, which replaced the two-story building destroyed in the early hours of March 18, three years ago.
King-Cougan is charged with two counts of aggravated break-in in company and one count of destroying property by fire in company. The alleged arsonist was arrested at a West Tamworth unit block on Wednesday afternoon but was granted bail yesterday by Magistrate Mal Macpherson.
During yesterday’s bail hearing, Police prosecutor Sergeant Cynthia Donovan said police will rely on DNA evidence and “partial admissions made to independent witnesses.”
“DNA forensic results were recently obtained,” she said of the investigation breakthrough.
Sergeant Donovan had opposed bail, arguing there was a flight risk because the accused fled to Victoria immediately after the 2012 blaze, and could commit further serious offences.
But solicitor Jason Curtis said his client had lived in Tamworth his whole life and had close community ties. Magistrate Macpherson said King-Cougan was in Tamworth and there was no criminal history or intelligence he is involved in suspicious behaviour, ordering King-Cougan to report to police every day while on bail.
“Admissions that were made were given to police immediately,” he told the court. “But it’s taken three years to find him.”
Oxley acting crime manager Detective Sergeant Jason Darcy said police will allege King-Cougan broke into the school and helped to start the fire.
“We conducted a recent review of the case assisted by the Arson Squad from the State Crime Command, they supplied two investigators who began working with our team which culminated with the arrest,” he told The Leader.
“These jobs are protracted but obviously we have dedicated detectives working on these cases until the end.”
The court heard the damage bill is estimated between $10.2 and $12 million.
The suspicious blaze destroyed the classroom block which housed physical education rooms, science labs and English classrooms.
In the wake of the fire, the school lost its sporting fields as dozens of demountable classrooms were set up to accommodate students.
“It’s a good result for the town, and it flows on from the good arrests in relation to Strike Force Codes, Strike Force Mewburn, the recent historic sexual assault arrest in Quirindi – police are doing their job,” Detective Sergeant Darcy said.
Detective Sergeant Darcy confirmed the investigation by the Arson Squad and Oxley detectives was continuing.
“Thank you to the community who have provided information. The information supplied to police has obviously led to the arrest,” he said.
“Information is gold, we make a number of enquiries and act on information and that is how we get over the line.”
