House fire murder accused James Morton Mason says he set car alight to get ‘bitch’ back

A man accused of murdering his partner in a house fire told an undercover cop he set her car alight to get the ‘bitch’ back, claiming she’d threatened his family, a court has heard.

The Chermside home where Ms Parkes was trapped during the fire. (AAP/Image Sarah Marshall)

A man accused of murdering his partner in a house fire told an undercover cop he set her car alight to get the “bitch” back, claiming she’d threatened his family, a court has heard.

James Morton Mason has pleaded not guilty to murdering Alexis Parkes in a house fire at Chermside.

He has pleaded guilty to arson after deliberately setting fire to her car which was parked under Ms Parkes’ timber Queenslander.

Brisbane’s Supreme Court heard Ms Parkes, who was found unresponsive in the burning home by firefighters, died from the effects of the fire several days after the blaze in February 2020.

Alexis Parkes died in hospital after being rescued from the fire. Picture: Supplied

After his arrest Mason was placed in a cell at the Brisbane Watchhouse with an undercover officer.

In a recording played to the court Mason said that Ms Parkes, who he had been seeing for about 11 months, had threatened his family after taking medication which sent her “loopy”.

“What made you think of that, set the car on fire,” the undercover officer asked.

“... get you back bitch don’t threaten my family,” Mason responded.

Mason said he thought he was looking at about 18 months of prison.

“Eighteen months, f--k I reckon you’ll be doing more than eighteen,” the officer said

“You reckon,” Mason responded.

Fire investigators at the scene of the 2020 house fire. Picture: Sarah Marshall

Mason said when he told his daughter she asked whether he got any marshmallows.

The officer asked Mason whether he intended to kill Ms Parkes.

“You’re lucky she didn’t die,” the officer said

“F--k yeah,” Mason responded.

“You reckon at the time you meant to kill her,” the officer asked.

“Nah I had no intentions,” he said.

The court heard Ms Parkes died several days later.