Fire at ‘murder house’
THE widow of allegedly murdered man Jamie Barlow says it is heartbreaking to see the home she shared with her late partner destroyed in a suspicious blaze overnight.
“I feel absolutely destroyed,” Stacey Vale said.
“I was planning on going back into that house and now I can’t.”
Emergency crews were called to the house about 3.20am on Tuesday where flames had completely engulfed the home.
Footage shows firefighters battling the blaze as neighbours watch from their properties. The fire was extinguished by 4.20am.
Ms Vale said the property was empty and had been disconnected from mains power.
“I would like to find out who did it and why,” she said.
The fire has destroyed one of the last tangible connections Ms Vale had to Mr Barlow as most of their shared property, including a pet snake and a cat, did not survive an earlier fire that was started the night Mr Barlow was stabbed to death.
“When I heard about last night’s fire I couldn’t deal with anybody,” she said.
“I had to leave the house and take the dog for a walk to clear my head.
“It is not fair.”
Jamie Barlow, 48, was found dead with multiple stab wounds in June this year.
Six people were charged over the stabbing death and appeared in the Ipswich Magistrates court last month.
It is alleged the group murdered Mr Barlow, attempted to murder Stacey Renee Vale, and burned down Mr Barlow’s house, killing several of his pet snakes in the blaze.
Gatton detectives have established a crime scene at the property and are working with the QFES Fire Investigation Unit to determine a cause.
It is understood the house is extensively damaged.