Mother accused of serial arson to stand trial

    Mother accused of serial arson to stand trial

16 May 2008

published by www.theaustralian.news.com.au


Australia — A woman accused of starting 47 bushfires in the Adelaide Hills has been ordered to stand trial after her lawyer indicated she would plead not guilty to the charges.

Helen White, a mother of two, appeared this morning in the Adelaide Magistrates Court, accused of starting the fires between 2006 and December 2007, destroying up to 180ha in total.

It has been alleged she lit 11 of those fires while her children sat in the back seat of her car, and continued to light them after she had been pulled over and questioned by police.

The court has previously heard Ms White, 44, posed a danger if she was left alone “even for five minutes”, and her bail application has consequently been denied.

She allegedly used mosquito coils and matches to start the fires.

Magistrate Joseph Baldino remanded Ms White in custody to appear before the District Court next month.


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