Beau Thomas Andrew Burke torched a car and houseboat on the Fitzroy River and swam in crocodile infested waters to flee capture

A Central Queensland drug addict’s explanation for torching a car parked on the Rockhampton riverbank, before swimming to a moored boathouse and torching it has been revealed in court. Full details here.

A drug addict’s explanation for torching a car parked on Rockhampton’s riverbank, before swimming to a moored houseboat and torching it, has been revealed in court.

Beau Thomas Andrew Burke, 24, pleaded guilty on April 21 to two counts of arson.

The arson offences took place on April 9, 2021, with both the car and boat “completely incinerated”.

Burke’s barrister Sheridan Shaw offered up an explanation as to why her client torched the car, then swam to the houseboat moored on the Fitzroy River, pulled down his pants and then torched the houseboat.

“It’s not a good reason,” Ms Shaw said.

She said Burke was under the influence of methamphetamines while on parole, thought the car had been abandoned due to the rubbish in it and rifled through the rubbish looking for anything “work taking”.

A Depot Hill man set on fire a car, as well as a boat on the Fitzroy River. Picture: WIN News

Ms Shaw said her client instructed he torched the car when he realised his fingerprints were on the car.

Judge Jeff Clarke questioned this ‘explanation’, saying: “so rather than wiping it down.... he burned it?”

“Do (car thieves) fill stolen cars with rubbish, do they?” he asked.

“That’s a new one on me. But I’ve only been doing this for about 30 years.”

Crown prosecutor Maryam Yousufzai said the car owner had parked the vehicle on the Fitzroy Riverbank about 6pm and was visiting a friend on a houseboat.

She said they heard a bang and looked out towards the noise.

Ms Yousufzai said the victim’s friend yelled out at Burke.

Burke then fled and jumped in the Fitzroy River - a known crocodile habitat - and swam to the houseboat.

Ms Yousufzai said CCTV captured Burke, who was identified by his very distinctive tattoos and hairstyle, take off his pants then grab a gas bottle and set the vessel on fire.

Ms Shaw said her client instructed he torched the houseboat for the same reason.

Ms Yousufzai said that after setting fire to the boathouse, Burke evaded water police while in the Fitzroy River and was tackled by police onshore when he emerged from the water.

She said the owner estimated the uninsured boat was worth $30,000-$40,000 after he installed a lot of equipment to make it liveable, including solar panels and a fridge.

Ms Yousufzai said the boat owner was not far off retirement and had planned to spend a lot of time on the vessel ‘Old Dun’ and had been spending every second weekend and school holidays on it with his grandchildren.

Ms Yousufzai said the car, worth $10,000, was also uninsured.

Burke, who was sent to jail in June 2020 for attempting to kidnap a woman, breached three suspended sentences when he committed the arson offences.

Ms Shaw said Burke still had support from his family, with both of his parents and a sister in the back of the court during sentencing, and his parents offering him accommodation after his release from prison.

She said her client was a trained boilermaker who was on the waiting list for drug rehabilitation services.

Judge Clarke said Burke had an “incredibly serious” criminal record for someone his age.

Beau Thomas Andrew Burke, 24.

“What happened here was quite unusual,” he said.

“It involved the senseless destruction of significant items belonging to members of the community.”

Judge Clarke said Burke was selfish in his actions.

“I’m sure it has occurred to you that you are in dire need for some rehabilitation from your drug use,” he said.

Judge Clarke sentenced Burke to four years prison, activated the suspended sentences in full and ordered they be served concurrently with the arson prison term.

He declared 378 days presentence custody as time served and set parole eligibility for August 9, 2022.