SA District Court jury visits scene of 2021 Adelaide Hills bushfires alongside alleged arsonist Gregory John McGannon
Jurors have visited the scene of the 2021 Cherry Gardens and Clarendon bushfires – alongside the man who, prosecutors allege, lit the blazes.
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The man accused of setting the 2021 Cherry Gardens and Clarendon bushfires has toured the scene, under guard, alongside the jury that will determine his fate.
On Monday, Gregory John McGannon watched from the sidelines as nine female and four male jurors toured sites that, prosecutors allege, prove him guilty of arson.
The day-long District Court view began at the Esplanade Hotel, Brighton, where Mr McGannon allegedly ate a pizza and drank wine before driving into the Adelaide Hills.
It followed a map generated from CCTV footage, photos, expert evidence and soil samples that, prosecutors allege, traced Mr McGannon’s movements between six fire sites.
The view ended at a seventh site where, prosecutors allege, Mr McGannon was caught in the act by police – but told them he was trying to extinguish the fire after seeing “the bastard that lit it”.
Mr McGannon, 63, of Hallett Cove, has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of causing a bushfire.
He has also pleaded not guilty to one aggravated count of driving dangerously to escape a police pursuit.
Prosecutors allege he lit seven fires across the Adelaide Hills on January 24, 2021 – a day of total fire ban – resulting in the Cherry Gardens and Clarendon bushfires.
They further allege he was caught with two cigarette lighters, two bottles of wine and a half-full glass, defaced number plates and a blood alcohol reading of 0.145.
Counsel for Mr McGannon has told jurors there will be no dispute fires had been lit that day, nor that his client had “recorded a blood alcohol reading of over 0.08”.
However, he said the rest of the prosecution’s allegations – particularly the identity of the arsonist – will be disputed.
The trial, before Judge Emily Telfer, continues on Tuesday.
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