Joseph Chehade ‘handed himself in’ after starting million dollar North Adelaide fire, court hears
A man who allegedly handed himself in over a fire that damaged an iconic hotel was bailed two weeks ago after allegedly attacking a prominent restaurateur, court has heard.
Police & Courts
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The man accused of setting fire to an iconic North Adelaide building, causing millions of dollars worth of damage, handed himself into police after “accidentally” lighting the “small” blaze, a court has heard.
Joseph Paul Chehade, 37 of North Adelaide, returned to the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday afternoon charged with arson after Eastern District detectives arrested him about 5.30pm Saturday – less than 12 hours after the fire started in the heritage-listed building next to the Oxford Hotel.
The court heard Mr Chehade had only two weeks before been released on bail to the North Adelaide property after allegedly attacking prominent restauranter Walter Ventura, and smashing the windows at his Lefevre Tce home.
At his first hearing, prosecutors did not oppose Mr Chehade’s release on bail, but on Monday afternoon, Magistrate Kym Millard heard prosecution would now be opposed to his release in any form.
“It is alleged that (Mr Ventura) is the part owner of the property which was set on fire,” Mr Millard said.
“Police, in their investigations, obtained CCTV which enabled them to identify a person of interest.
“That person of interest on the prosecution case is the accused.
“He is seen in the CCTV footage walking towards the address in which the fire occurred at about 6.45am.
“Shortly thereafter the fire began, the accused is then identified by prosecution as a person walking east on Tynte St.
“The defendant then handed himself in at the Holden Hill Police Station on July 27.
“Various forensic procedures were undertaken. He made certain admissions to having been at the premises in question.”
Mr Millard said Mr Chehade had then made admissions he had “lit a small fire” which “he said had got out of control”.
“He said he escaped the blaze, he admits to having left his telephone behind, and says that he approached someone in the street and asked them to call the fire brigade.”
“The prosecution case is that forensic investigators will provide evidence to support a conclusion that an accelerant was used, but the defendant has an explanation as to why there might be accelerant found at the damaged building.
“There are previous allegations of assault and serious criminal trespass involving (Mr Ventura),” Mr Millard said.
“Further criminal activity is alleged on the prosecution case, and the defendant is believed to be the person responsible for damaging the property by fire. The current estimates state the damage is in excess of a million dollars.
“On July 14, it is alleged Mr Chehade made threats towards (Mr Ventura), and attended at that person’s property, smashing the windows and assaulting him by striking him with a broom on numerous occasions.”
He said Mr Chehade had recently been made aware the property co-owned by Mr Ventura was intended to be sold, just weeks before Mr Chehade had allegedly set fire to it.
“The evidence on the prosecution case is strong enough to suggest there is clearly a case to answer in this matter,” he said.
“There were statements made by (Mr Ventura) that suggest the defendant was aware the property was to be sold, and that he would be unable to stay at the property despite other arrangements made that predate the 14th of July allegations.
“It is the prosecution case that, rather than being accidental, the fire was deliberately lit.”
Tyson Leung, for Mr Chehade, asked her client be released on supervised bail to his parent’s address in Hope Valley, saying her client planned to contest all charges against him.
But Mr Millard said his string of offending was too serious, and he was not a “fit or proper candidate for bail”.
“The charges are far too serious given the events that have occurred over a period of weeks which would suggest a compulsive position of anger and retribution towards (Mr Ventura),” he said.
“Bail is refused.”
Mr Chehade is due to face court again on his original charges in October, and will appear on the arson charges in November.
Dozens of firefighters rushed to the building – co-owned by prominent businessman Walter Ventura – about 7am Saturday when smoke was seen billowing from the roof area.
The fire caused an estimated $3m damage and the O’Connell St building was extensively damaged.
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