Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Revenge fuels fatal Qld explosion
One man is dead and another in court after their attempt to set alight a shipping container at a central Queensland business went wrong.
April 3, 2019
An alleged act of revenge has cost a man his life in central Queensland after fuel he was using to set a shipping container a light exploded.
The Mackay man’s body was found at a trailer manufacturing business by firefighters attending the blaze about 2am on Tuesday.
Police are alleging the fatal explosion happened while the man, 30, was attempting to ignite a container holding personal items belonging to his father’s former partner.
“Unfortunately in the process of lighting (that fire) it’s obviously got out of control and there was an explosion,” a spokesman told AAP on Wednesday.
The dead man’s father, 50, was also at the Malcolmson Street business and helped set the fire, police say.
“We’ll allege they planned to run in different directions when the fire was lit,” the spokesman said.
“So it appears (the father) didn’t know the tragedy had occurred.”
Police have charged the dead man’s father with a string of offences, including arson, wilful damage and four counts of contravening a domestic violence order.
He appeared in the Mackay Magistrates Court on Wednesday.