Logan council ranger David Craig Martin charged with revenge arson attack
A park ranger whose father was hurt in an alleged hit-and-run is accused of tracking down the driver and burning down his house.
Police & Courts
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A Logan City Council park ranger whose father was hurt in an alleged hit-and-run crash is accused of using his work computer and vehicle to track down the driver before burning down his house.
Police allege in court documents that the ranger, David Craig Martin, owned 12 guns and told an associate: “I’ve tracked and found the c--t. I’m sitting here wondering do I throw it all away and go and blow his head off or wait a week? Follow him, pull him out of the car and cut his hands and feet off so he can never drive again.”
Martin, 37, has been charged with arson, stalking and burglary over the bizarre case, which was mentioned in court last week.
According to documents filed as part of a successful Supreme Court bail application by Martin, the charges stem from alleged incidents in March when his father was involved in a crash with a motorist named Nicholas McLees.
Martin’s father is not accused of wrongdoing.
Prosecutors allege in the documents that Martin identified Mr McLees on social media before using his work computer to get his address and other personal details.
Martin’s wife Nicole then used his council Toyota HiLux to drive to Mr McLees’ Boronia Heights house, photograph it and send directions to her husband, the court documents allege.
Martin allegedly sent Mr McLees a Facebook message saying: “Hi Nick, I suggest you do right after your incident yesterday with what you did, we know you own your house and the fact your shit box car has no rego trimmers on.”
Prosecutors allege in the court documents that Martin went to Mr McLees’ Myles Court house a further five times, which formed part of the stalking offence.
The documents allege that around 6.45pm on March 7, the day after the crash, Martin and two other people were observed on CCTV arriving at Mr McLees’ house on foot from a neighbouring easement. Several large bangs were heard before the house was engulfed in flames and destroyed, the documents allege. The house was uninsured and Mr McLees lived there with a boarder and child, according to the documents.
They also allege that phone messages intercepted by police revealed Martin’s brother, Jamie, texted him on March 6 urging him to “firebomb his house” and on March 7 to “go soon bro”.
Their father, Craig, who was injured in the crash and taken to hospital, allegedly warned his sons by SMS “don’t go to that house” and “don’t do nothing silly”.
Jamie Martin is listed in court documents as a co-accused offender.
GPS data obtained by police showed the council HiLux was driven to Myles Court at 5.29pm on the night of the blaze and parked at Boronia Heights until 6.58pm, the court documents allege.
In a police objection to bail tendered in court, officers said Martin had a weapons licence and owned 12 firearms, which had been seized following an alleged incident in 2022 but were returned after a doctor’s clearance.
The bail objection alleged that following the accident involving his father, Martin discussed shooting or dismembering Mr McLees in a message to a female associate.
When she allegedly told him that “the better way to kill someone is with poison”, he allegedly replied: “Nar I’d prefer to tie him up … remove toe by toe (and) finger by finger … wait (until) he passes out, and stab him and (pour) acid (over) the cuts.”
“Being I have a 6000-acre (2400ha) property I hunt and shoot on with multiple mine shafts, I think I’ll win,” Martin added in the message, according to court documents.
In an affidavit in support of her husband’s bail bid, Nicole Martin “absolutely” denied allegations she had misled police about his whereabouts, saying she would not lie for David.
She said she had posted a photo of Mr McLees on various social media sites in an attempt to identify him, and was messaged by a woman who told her he was a reckless driver and was well-known to speed in the street.
Mrs Martin said she went to Mr McLees’ house, photographed two cars outside and the letterbox number and rang triple-0 to report it. She admitted to deleting her social media posts about Mr McLees, saying she feared he might try to track down her family.
Mrs Martin, who has not been charged, said she and her husband had three children who had struggled while he was in custody on remand. She said he had worked with the council for 15 years and was the family’s main breadwinner.
Logan Deputy Mayor Scott Bannan provided a character reference for Martin’s bail application, describing him as “a stand-up, respected and admired member of our community (who) I’m even more proud to call … a friend”.
Martin was granted Supreme Court bail in May with conditions including a 9pm-5am curfew, bans on alcohol, drugs and firearms and an anger management counselling order.
Defence lawyer Michael Gatenby told The Courier-Mail Martin denied involvement in the fire and would strenuously defend the charges, which have been adjourned for mention in Southport Magistrates Court until later this month.
A Logan City Council spokesman said they were unable to comment on the allegations but confirmed Martin no longer worked for the organisation.
“Logan City Council is aware of matters before the court involving a former staff member and is assisting Queensland Police Service with their investigation,” the spokesman said.
“As the matter is before the courts, it would not be appropriate to make further comment.”
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