Coronial Inquest Hears Conflicting Accounts in Fatal House Fire

A Queensland coronial inquest is currently examining a tragic 2017 house fire that resulted in the death of one young boy and serious injuries to his brother. The father, whose name is legally suppressed, recently provided testimony regarding the blaze, which claimed the life of his older son the day after the incident due to burns.

Father Testifies Amidst Allegations

The father described his confusion about the fire's origin, stating he was confused by seeing a fireball ignite the children. He revealed he has spent a significant amount on psychiatric and hypnotherapy appointments to erase memories of the event.

During questioning by counsel assisting, Kate Juhasz, the father became confrontational. He questioned her position and stated he lives with the scars daily. He also accused Ms. Juhasz of insufficient preparation and attempting to degrade him. These remarks came after questions regarding allegations of violence towards his children and their mother, which he adamantly denied.

"You've got your facts wrong."

Regarding claims made by the children's mother in previous testimony, where she alleged he was regularly violent towards her and physically violent with their older son, the father denied any wrongdoing. He also denied setting her possessions on fire. When asked about violence against former partners, he again denied the claims and questioned the relevance of the questions, asking if they were "kicking tyres to waste time."

Phone calls from before the 2017 fire, played in court, included the father swearing at the children and telling them to "shut up." He denied claims that he was a chronic alcoholic at the time of the blaze.

Grandparents Provide Evidence

The boys' grandparents also gave evidence. The grandmother stated in a Triple Zero call that her son was asleep with the two boys in the back house when it caught fire. Both grandparents reported hearing a loud bang from the house, which was located approximately 100 meters from their home.

The grandmother recalled her son seeking help from her husband to get the boys. She described observing the children with extensive blisters, noting one was screaming while the other had been sobbing before falling silent. She refuted a paramedic's statement that her son was watching television with her and her husband when the fire occurred. She also denied a claim that she had to encourage the father to re-enter the burning home to retrieve the children.

The grandmother maintained that her son consistently stated the children were asleep and asserted that he would not have started the fire.

Police Detail Scene Observations

Police officers who arrived at the scene testified last week. Senior Constable Andrew Bell stated he found the father in the shower, smoking a cigarette, with a "dazed" expression. Bell did not observe the father assisting or showing concern for his injured children at any point, noting:

"I don't recall anything that a father would normally do, interacting with them, trying to calm them or give them any assurances."

The inquest heard that immediately after the fire, the father suggested the mother was involved, but police subsequently ruled her out as a suspect.

The inquest is ongoing.