Man charged with murder over fatal Newtown boarding house fire

The first victim believed to have been killed in horrific house fire has been named as the alleged murder’s case is dealt with in court.

A man accused of starting a Sydney boarding house fire that claimed the lives of three residents has chosen not to apply for bail in court.

Richard Hotoran, 45, was charged with three counts of murder on Tuesday night after neighbours woke about 1am that morning to the sounds of explosions coming from the two-storey house at the intersection of Probert and Albermarle streets in Newtown.

A man has been charged with murder over a fatal Sydney house fire. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

Police confirmed the bodies of three people were found in the wreckage, with one person still unaccounted for.

The bodies are yet to be formally identified; however, court documents state police believe one of the deceased is Pankaj Kumar.

In addition to the murder charges, Mr Hotoran was charged with one count of destroy or damage property by fire or explosive more than $15,000 (DV) when he attended Surry Hills Police Station.

Mr Hotoran’s lawyer appeared in Central Local Court on Wednesday and said his client would not make an application for release.

No pleas to the charges were entered and magistrate Robert Williams adjourned the case to a date in May.

There was speculation Mr Hotoran was a resident of the boarding house; however, court documents list his residential address as being in Kingsford.

A man in his 80s remains in a critical condition at Royal North Shore Hospital, while another man remains in a stable condition at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

A third man who was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital has since been released.

Police say the boarding house was home to at least 11 men aged 40 and above.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter Cotter on Tuesday afternoon revealed police were treating the out-of-control blaze as being deliberately lit.

He said police alleged the fire was started using accelerant and an explosion.

The fire at the boarding house is being investigated by police. Picture: FRNSW

Emergency services rushed to the boarding house at the intersection of Probert and Albermarle streets in Newtown about 1am on Tuesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

“We are treating this as a murder,” Mr Cotter said.

“There was an explosion, the flame took hold extremely quickly. It would be fair to say some type of accelerant has been used.”

More than 30 firefighters responded to the fire, arriving to find “very intense flames” coming out of the first and second levels of the building.

Witnesses described seeing one resident jump out of a second-storey window to escape the flames.

Firefighters worked quickly to contain the flames that were already touching adjoining properties.

A number of residents lined the streets having made the decision to evacuate their homes in the early hours of the morning.

Police returned to the boarding house on Wednesday as they continue to search for the body of the person who is unaccounted for.

Originally published as Man charged with murder over fatal Newtown boarding house fire