Hasitha Nojitha Kannangara, Goodna, fronts Ipswich Court accused of cop car arson

An Ipswich man accused of setting a cop car on fire in broad daylight had marched himself inside the nearby station afterwards and turned himself in “just for a place to sleep,” a court has heard.

An Ipswich man accused of setting a cop car on fire in broad daylight had marched himself inside the nearby station afterwards and turned himself in “just for a place to sleep,” a court has heard. Picture: Glenn Campbell

A man with no criminal history or reason to hate police has been accused of setting fire to a cop car in broad daylight.

An Ipswich court heard at the man’s bail application today, September 12, how he marched up to the station and handed himself in – right after allegedly sparking the blaze.

Goodna resident Hasitha Nojitha Kannangara, 38, stands charged with one count of arson of a motor vehicle.

Kannangara was arrested at Goodna Police Station yesterday, September 11, after turning himself in for the arson charge.

The Ipswich Magistrates’ Court heard Kannangara was accused of setting fire to a police car outside the station in “broad daylight”.

Police will allege the fire started in the carpark just off Church Street around 1.20pm.

A police spokesman confirmed officers extinguished the fire shortly afterwards and no one was injured in the blaze.

Goodna Police Station. Photo: Inga Williams / The Satellite

Legal aid defence lawyer Madeline Jacks told the court her client had handed himself in “just for a place to sleep”.

She noted he had no criminal history and no previous issues with police.

He had also checked the police car before setting it on fire to make sure no one was inside, Ms Jacks said.

The court heard Kannangara suffered from schizophrenia and delusions.

Magistrate Dennis Kinsella acknowledged Kannangara’s lack of criminal history and seeming “impairment of the mind”.

However, he said it was difficult to consider bail when there remained a lack of information about Kannangara’s motives and mental health circumstances.

“With a lack of answer to motivation, there very much remains a real risk to the safety of the community,” Mr Kinsella said.

He said the psychological report conducted since Kannangara’s arrest suggested that the “precise nature and state of [Kannangara’s] mind seems to warrant further investigation”.

Mr Kinsella said he could not grant Kannangara’s bail as he considered him a risk to the community, to himself, and of reoffending.

However, he noted the court may be able to grant bail at a later time after further investigation into Kannangara’s mental health circumstances and motivations.

Kannangara was remanded in custody for committal mention on October 13, with a video appearance required.