Man fights arson rap

A MAN who police allege was the mastermind behind a fire which caused millions of dollars of damage to St Andrew’s Lutheran College in 2016 will fight the accusations.

Paul Hamstra pleaded not guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court yesterday to two counts of arson.

The 21-year-old’s not guilty plea came on the back of a committal hearing during which three men who were with him the day of the fire were cross-examined.

The court was told at the committal that Hamstra thought the fire was out when the group left the Tallebudgera school.

The total damage was almost $7 million.

The group went to its old school to commit a prank, the court was told.

The case will be heard in the Southport District Court at a later date.