General News
14 July, 2021
Accused juveniles face court
FOUR juvenile females arrested and charged with arson for allegedly causing a fire that destroyed a Mareeba business have all faced various court hearings over the past few days.
FOUR juvenile females arrested and charged with arson for allegedly causing a fire that destroyed a Mareeba business have all faced various court hearings over the past few days.
Their appearances come after a devastating blaze thought to be a deliberate act of vandalism gutted the Performance Motors and Yamaha workshop in Mareeba around 12.30am on June 29.
“As it stands a 12-year-old girl has already made appearances on June 30 and July 2,” Mareeba Police Station Senior Sergeant and Officer-in-Charge Derek Garner told The Express.
“She was remanded in custody and was due to reappear before the courts again on August 9.
“Three other females that are on strict bail and curfew conditions from their original charge appeared on July 5 and their bail and curfew conditions were extended.
“They will each reappear again before the courts on August 16th.” Mr Garner outlined the next natural process in the matter.
“Going forward they’ll eventually have to answer a plea,” he advised.
“Then the matter will be determined in a District Court by a judge.
“For example, even if they were to plead guilty it still needs to go before a judge at that district level (most likely in Cairns), just because of the seriousness of the offence.”
Mr Garner said there has been a lot of collective support from the community for Lucy and Kevin Dunn since the alleged incident.
“The Mareeba community have really united and there has been a lot of sympathy towards the business owners,” the Officer-in-Charge said.
“It’s really good to see they’ve been able to (temporarily) relocate and continue on with their business in some capacity. “There has been a lot of anger (from the community) that this could happen.
“It was a senseless act that destroyed the business of hardworking and productive members of the community."
