A person accused of intentionally lighting a sequence of fires that burnt by orchards and led to an emergency warning close to a far north Queensland city this week is “struggling psychological well being points and has carried out so for a while”, a court docket has heard.
Key factors:
- Danny Pietrograzia, 37, is going through costs over a sequence of fires lit within the Mareeba space on Tuesday
- The court docket heard crops had been destroyed on rural properties in consequence
- A Justice of the Peace has requested for extra details about the accused’s way of thinking earlier than deciding whether or not to grant bail
Danny Pietrograzia, 37, utilized for bail when he confronted the Atherton Magistrates Court docket by video hyperlink from a police watch home on Thursday afternoon, charged with 12 counts of setting fireplace to vegetation.
The court docket heard Mr Pietrograzia’s white Landcruiser was seen by witnesses, together with his accomplice, and captured on CCTV close to the place the fires had been lit, from simply after 1pm Tuesday on Chewko Highway.
However prosecutors mentioned the certified trainer denied accountability for the fires when police went to talk to him on Wednesday.
Mr Pietrograzia offered an “inconsistent” account of occasions, the court docket heard, however mentioned he had stayed close to his property to battle fires.
Some properties had been evacuated when an emergency warning was issued because the fires burnt by the agricultural space.
The price of the emergency response was about $20,000, the court docket heard.
However some farmers could also be counting a a lot greater value, together with one fruit grower who misplaced 1000’s of lime and lychee timber.
Accused experiencing ‘distortions’
Prosecutors opposed Mr Pietrograzia’s utility to be launched on bail, arguing it will pose an unacceptable threat to public security.
Mr Pietrograzia’s lawyer acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations however mentioned his consumer had robust household help and may very well be launched to stay with kinfolk in Townsville, away from “important triggers” within the Mareeba area.
The lawyer mentioned he had noticed Mr Pietrograzia to be experiencing “perceptual distortions in regards to the world wherein he’s residing” and proposed he be required to bear remedy as a situation of his launch.
“Regrettably, he hasn’t sought quite a lot of help to cope with his psychological well being points previously,” he mentioned.
“He did appear to grasp the idea of being on bail and the necessity to adjust to bail circumstances.”
Mr Pietrograzia grew up about 800 metres from the property he at the moment lives at, near the place he works on his household’s citrus property, the court docket heard.
“I’ve some considerations relating to your way of thinking and I consider it is necessary that I ought to acquire some further info earlier than I make a closing determination relating to your utility,” Justice of the Peace Thomas Braes instructed Mr Pietrograzia.
He remanded Mr Pietrograzia in custody to subsequent face court docket on October 17.