Police to review previous dealings with couple in Ayr fatal fire
Richard Dinnen - Queensland Editor |
The Queensland Police Ethical Standards Command (ESC) will review how the force dealt with a couple involved in a fatal fire at Ayr in north Queensland this week.
The fire was reported early on Tuesday morning at an address on Home Hill Road. A 47-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man were found with severe burns.
The woman died in hospital several hours later. The man, who is her partner, is in a serious condition in hospital. Police have not yet been able to speak to him.
A murder investigation is underway, and police believe the fire was deliberately lit.
Chief Superintendent Chris Lawson said the woman had been protected by a domestic violence order since 2018, but the couple had continued to live together.
“Domestic violence orders don’t prohibit people from living together. The actual order that was in place did not prohibit the man from being at the residence.
“It was established that the fire was probably deliberately lit. We’re waiting to speak to the 65-year-old male in that regard.”
The ESC will review previous police dealings with the couple. Superintendent Lawson said police had been called to the home many times before and had done a welfare check there less than four hours before the fire was reported.
“The welfare check remains under investigation.
It’s not a great result and that’s why we have the Ethical Standards Command overviewing the investigation into that initial interaction with the couple.”
Detectives are appealing to anyone who was in the area between 4 and 6 on Tuesday morning who may have information or video to contact them.
