Dion Robert James Mead pleaded guilty to arson after setting his family home alight
A man has pleaded guilty to torching his Christie Downs home – forcing a young family to flee for their lives – despite initially saying he was nowhere near the fire.
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A man has admitted torching his Christie Downs home and causing $150,000 in damage, despite initially saying he was nowhere near the fire.
Dion Robert James Mead, 27, pleaded guilty in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday to the arson of a Junction housing property.
Ross Colthorpe, for Mead, initially told Magistrate Simon Smart his client would be pleading not guilty to the charge.
However, Mead piped up and said he “changed his mind” and was going to plead guilty.
During Mead’s bail application in April, the court heard Mead and his partner had an argument in their Christies Beach home on March 28, prompting Mr Mead to borrow his neighbour’s push bike and a jerry can.
Mead then travelled to the nearby On The Run before returning to the property and setting it alight.
The court heard the home was condemned inhabitable and police allege the estimated damage to be $150,000.
Annalise Madigan and partner Alex Howse were preparing to put their son Blake to bed when they heard loud bangs at the rear of their Christie Downs property on the night of the fire.
The young mother said she “didn’t feel safe” after her home was threatened by flames coming from the home next door.
They soon realised there was a well-alight fire inside the adjoining property.
“I was on the phone to my dad and I just said to him that there was a massive explosion,” Ms Madigan said at the time.
“I just grabbed my son and came outside and the windows were just bursting with flames.”
Mr Howse quickly called fire fighters who contained the blaze in around 10 minutes.
Mr Colthorpe told the court during Mead’s bail application he was nowhere near the property at the time of the offending.
“He was staying with his cousins on the other side of town and didn’t know there was a fire,” he said.
“We don’t know how the fire started … They (prosecution) say it’s suspicious but I don’t know if there has been any evidence.
“The other evidence that suggests him is by people that don’t know him by name.”
In the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday, Mr Smart adjourned Mead’s charge for arraignment in the District Court in November.
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