Roland Griffiths faces committal hearing over alleged murder of wife Kylie Griffiths

A man’s heroism in trying to save the life of a neighbour allegedly murdered by her husband has been revealed in court.

A neighbour heroically jumped a fence and applied a hose to a woman who was later to die of burns allegedly inflicted by her husband, a court has been told.

Kylie Griffiths, 36, died in hospital as a result of burns when her Albanvale home was set on fire on March 14 last year, the court heard. Her husband, 38-year-old Roland James Griffiths, has been charged with murder over her death.

A teenager also suffered serious injuries, while there were four other occupants of the house as well at the time.

Roland Griffiths is accused of murdering his wife, Kylie Griffiths, in an Albanvale fire last year. Picture: Supplied

A summary released by the court reveals police allege Mr Griffiths had been drinking on the day of the incident, and that after a series of arguments, he allegedly deliberately set fire to his wife and the kitchen by pouring petrol over her and the surrounding area.

A teenager was standing in the kitchen when he set it alight, police allege, resulting in the teenager sustaining serious burns.

Mr Griffiths faces 13 charges, according to documents released by the courts, including murder, attempted murder, and destroying property without lawful exercise.

On the first day of what is scheduled to be a three-day committal hearing in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday, the Griffiths’ neighbour, Adrian Hamilton, said he jumped over their fence and started to apply water to Ms Griffiths with a hose after noticing the fire.

“I heard a loud bang,” Mr Hamilton told the court.

“I assumed it was maybe related to a barbie,” he said.

Mr Hamilton said he also helped lift some children beyond the Griffiths’ fence.

Under cross-examination from barrister John Saunders, who is acting for the accused, Mr Hamilton said he had encountered some “difficulties” with Mr Griffiths, who he said had threatened to burn down his own house.

“It’s been directed towards me and my family,” he said.

Mr Hamilton told the court the threats came after Mr Griffiths found out Mr Hamilton had made complaints about him to police and the Victorian housing department.

Mr Hamilton also told the court that he had heard Mr Griffiths say he “doesn’t care” if he went to jail while making the threats.

Earlier on Monday, the court was told that Mr Griffiths displayed “extreme concern” for the woman he allegedly murdered as he suffered from his own extreme burns.

Under cross-examination from Mr Saunders, Constable Brett Seychell confirmed that Mr Griffiths was “expressing his love” for the alleged victim, tried to kiss her and apologised.

Constable Seychell confirmed that Griffiths “started to shake” and tried to “get up and leave” towards the other burns victims.

The court was told that according to his statement, Griffiths turned to a teenager and said “it wasn’t supposed to get you”.

Mr Griffiths allegedly expressed his love for his wife after setting a house on fire, a court has been told. Picture: Supplied

The first witness of the morning, Constable Dylan Grenfell from Werribee, said he arrived at the scene to see Ms Griffiths being “hosed down” by a neighbour in a driveway.

Constable Grenfell confirmed he had a conversation with the deceased on a nature strip after the incident.

Mr Griffiths, who appeared in court via video from prison, was largely expressionless throughout the hearing.

Firefighter Christopher Watson said in his witness statement that he provided oxygen to Ms Griffiths on his arrival and poured bottled water over her burns, the court was told.

Mr Watson also observed the accused “screaming in pain with serious burns to his back and shoulders”, the court was told.

Griffiths spent two months in hospital last year before he was charged with Ms Griffiths’ murder.

The committal hearing before magistrate Malcolm Thomas continues.

Originally published as Roland Griffiths faces committal hearing over alleged murder of wife Kylie Griffiths