Manslaughter charge over Katherine blaze

A 34-YEAR-OLD man has been charged with manslaughter in relation to a Katherine grassfire that killed one of his relatives and injured another.

Police allege the man deliberately lit the fire with a cigarette lighter on Wednesday night.

Northern Territory Police Detective Acting Senior Ser- geant Tony Henrys said police initially believed the fire, while deliberately lit, spread accidentally.

But after reviewing CCTV footage and reinterviewing witnesses, a more sinister motive emerged.

Acting Sen Sgt Henrys said police believed an argument over property broke out among the group of about seven people camped in scrub- land opposite a service station on the Victoria Highway.

All people involved had been drinking, he said.

It’s alleged the man lit the fire with the intention to disperse the group so he would be “left in peace” before the evening took a tragic turn.

The fire burned out of control. Police arrived at the campsite to find the 46-yearold victim burning alive.

Acting Sen Sgt Henrys said officers “tended to the man as best they could” before paramedics arrived and took him to Katherine Hospital, where he died soon after.

He sustained extensive burns to his legs and severe burns to his torso.

A police officer was at the service station across the road from the site at the time of the fire.

The alleged offender spoke to the officer while the fire was burning.

The man is also charged with recklessly endangering the life of a third man who sustained minor burns to his head.

Acting Sen Sgt Henrys said the man charged had co-operated with police and appeared contrite.

He will appear in Katherine Local Court on Monday.