Qld: Firebug rampage in Brisbane, court told

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2007
Qld: Firebug rampage in Brisbane, court told

By Christine Flatley

BRISBANE, Dec 5 AAP - Four teenage firebugs went on a rampage in Brisbane that caused
$289,000 of damage to community facilities, a court has been told.

The Marchant Park Cricket Club at Chermside was set ablaze during the crime spree on
the evening of April 24 last year.

The fire destroyed three lawn rollers and a warehouse shed.

The teens also damaged a children's playground and burnt property - including a shadecloth
and chair - at Geebung's John Wesley Gardens retirement centre.

Further details of the destructive rampage were not read out in court, but police at
the time also alleged the teens were responsible for a grass fire at nearby 7th Brigade
Park.

A statement of facts tendered in court said the teens also drove scissor lifts around
a construction site, using them like dodgem cars to smash into each other.

Ashley Robert John Edwards, now 19, Jake Murray, 19, and Zane Lawrence Mullaney, 18,
all pleaded guilty today in the Brisbane District Court to a string of offences relating
to the evening of mayhem, including arson, wilful damage and entering premises with intent.

A fourth offender, who was just 15 at the time and therefore cannot be named, has also
pleaded guilty to a string of similar charges.

During today's court appearance, it was revealed that at least two of the teens had
been drinking heavily prior to the offences.

The court was told Murray was so drunk when he was picked up by police that they were
unable to interview him for several hours.

Judge Julie Dick adjourned sentencing the adults until next week.

The juvenile will be sentenced early next year after a pre-sentence report.

AAP cf/jnb/sp

KEYWORD: ARSON

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