Jury begins deliberations in newagency fire case

The woman, aged in her 50s, has pleaded not guilty to attempted arson.

Crews attended a fire at NewsXpress newsagency at Walkerston Shopping Centre on July 30, 2018.

A MACKAY jury today began deliberating over the innocence or guilt of a woman charged with setting fire to her Walkerston newsagency to cash in on a $700,000 insurance policy.

Narelle Ann Cooper has pleaded not guilty in Mackay District Court to attempted arson.

It is alleged she started a fire in her NewsXpress business on July 30, 2018 using butane canisters sold in the store because she was in debt.

A fire has broken out at the Walkerston Woolworths complex.

Her lawyer has argued the fire could have started accidentally from a candle she had tossed into a wastebasket.

Firefighters were called to the Creek St business about 5.49pm after a nearby butcher saw flames inside the building.

The court heard the blaze was quickly doused but “there was a large amount of damage”.

The jury began deliberations at 2.45pm today.

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