A man has been charged with murder following the death of another man in an allegedly deliberately lit house fire on the state’s south coast.
About 10.40pm on Friday (31 July 2020), emergency services responded to reports of a break-in and fire at a home on Leonard Street, Bomaderry, north of Nowra.
Officers from South Coast Police District attended and found the home well alight.
Fire and Rescue NSW extinguished the blaze, which destroyed the home and a nearby vehicle.
Firefighters pulled a 49-year-old man from the home and despite CPR attempts by paramedics, he died at the scene.
A second occupant, an 18-year-old man, was able to escape the home uninjured.
A crime scene was established which was examined by specialist forensic police.
Strike Force Berep was established by local detectives, with assistance from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad and Arson Unit, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Following inquiries, investigators attended a home on the same street and arrested a 26-year-old man about 12.35pm yesterday (Saturday 1 August 2020).
He was taken to Nowra Police Station and charged with murder and three counts of destroy or damage property.
Police will allege in court that the man smashed a house window, before pouring petrol inside and setting it alight.
The man was refused bail to appear before Wollongong Local Court via AVL today (Sunday 2 August 2020).
