Threats made against family of Australian arson accused

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-02-17 15:00

SYDNEY – Internet hate messages calling for a suspected arsonist in Australia to be tortured and killed have sparked real concerns for his safety, the man's lawyers said Tuesday.

Helen Spowart (C), defence lawyer for suspected wildfire arsonist Brendan Sokaluk leaves court in Melbourne. [Agencies]

Brendan Sokaluk, 39, is in protective custody amid fears he will be targeted for allegedly starting a fire that killed 11 people and razed 151 homes around Churchill east of the city of Melbourne, on February 7.

The fire was one of several major blazes that swept through Victoria state, killing at least 189 people and burning about 1,800 homes to the ground.

Sokaluk has been charged with arson causing death and intentionally lighting a bush fire. He faces up to 25 years in jail if convicted.

A rash of hate messages sprang up on Internet social networking websites after an order suppressing his identity was lifted Monday, prompting fears for his safety and that of his family, national news wire AAP reported.

"Not only is there the understandable community anger which suddenly has a focus point, there's also vicious hatred appearing in another kind of medium," lawyer Julian McMahon told Victoria's Supreme Court Tuesday.

"Facebook groups were ... showing my client's photo and calling for his torture and death."

"The safety of my client is of concern. There have been ... threats made to one family member at least that I'm aware of," said McMahon, arguing for a ban on publishing Sokaluk's photograph.

"There's a very ugly aspect to this."

Six fires, including the blaze at Churchill, continued to burn out of control across Victoria Tuesday, but were all within containment lines, authorities told AFP.

"The cool damp weather overnight kept fire activity to a minimum," the environment department said of the Churchill fire.

Some 3,000 firefighters were on the ground, taking advantage of milder conditions to strengthen containment lines around the major fires, none of which were threatening property.

Billions of litres (gallons) of drinking water were also being pumped from fire-affected areas into other reservoirs to prevent them being tainted by ash and other run-off.