Case against alleged church arsonist, Stephen Anthony Luke, hits standstill

The progress in the case against a 46-year-old man accused of trying to burn down a Lismore cathedral and a Hillsong property has hit a hurdle.

NSW Fire & Rescue crews at the St Carthage's Cathedral in Lismore. Photo: Alison Paterson

The progress in the case against a man charged with trying to torch down a Lismore cathedral and a Hillsong property has hit a hurdle, as negotiations over one set of charges persists.

Stephen Anthony Luke, 46, is accused of carrying out a week-long crime spree across NSW in September, which involved allegedly setting fire to two churches and stealing money and cars.

According to court documents tendered to Lismore Local Court, police allege Mr Luke threatened a 20-year-old woman in a car park with a knife before demanding she give him the car keys on September 14.

He then allegedly fled the area in her Volkswagen Polo.

On September 16, police allege Mr Luke set fire to garden plants and irrigation plumbing pipes at the Hillsong property in Norwest, causing about $2000 worth of damage, and painted a building wall without consent.

He then travelled to Lismore, where he allegedly set fire to St Carthage’s Cathedral in Lismore on September 18.

Multiple fire crews were called to the cathedral and managed to extinguish the blaze.

Mr Luke was later arrested on September 19 on Magellan Street, Lismore.

Richmond Police District Superintendent Scott Tanner outside St Carthage's Cathedral in Lismore. Photo: Alison Paterson

He fronted Lismore Local Court on Wednesday, July 28 via videolink.

The court heard from the DPP prosecutor that three out of the four sets of charges had been certified and were ready to proceed.

However one set ‒ including the charges of armed robbery, dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, dishonestly obtaining property by deception, and larceny of a sum less than $2000 ‒ remains uncertified.

This was despite an adjournment for the same reason during Mr Luke’s July 15 mention.

The DPP prosecutor asked if a further extension could be granted to let negotiations continue as a case conference.

Magistrate Jeff Linden granted an adjournment on the basis a case conference certificate was filed by September 7.

Mr Luke has not yet entered pleas for the certified charges including causing more than $15,000 in property damage from fire, using a weapon to prevent arrest, two counts of armed assault with the intent to rob, causing about $2000 in property damage via fire, and intentionally marking a property without consent.

A further committal mention is listed for all matters on September 29.