Desperate mother wants answers 20 years after son’s death

JULIEANNA Szabo will spend every day of her life fighting for answers after her son was killed in a house fire in Waterloo in 1998.

Julieanna Szabo joined Redfern Superintendent Andrew Holland on the 20-year anniversary of a suspicious house fire that killed her then 13-year-old son Arthur Haines. Picture: Laura Sullivan

JULIEANNA Szabo will spend every day of her life fighting for answers after her son was killed in a house fire in Waterloo in 1998.

Twenty years on, her fight is stronger than ever.

On April 9, 1998, her then 13-year-old son, Arthur Haines was staying over at a friend’s house on Walker St, Waterloo when the house caught ablaze.

The family escaped the fire, but Arthur was forgotten upstairs.

Arthur managed to escape the fire, but suffered burns to 60 per cent of his body.

He succumbed to his injuries at Westmead Hospital 11 weeks later.

Julieanna Szabo, from Rosebury said she will never give up hope of finding the person responsible for her sons death. Picture: Laura Sullivan

Arthur would have turned 34-years-old today.

Supt Superintendent Andrew Holland, Commander of Redfern Police Station, said detectives were renewing their appeal for information following the anniversary.

Scientific examination of the crime scene determined the house was deliberately lit and Strike Force Belemba, with officers from Redfern Police Area Command, are continuing their investigation into the circumstances around the fire.

A $100,000 reward offered by the NSW Government is on offer for any information that could lead to the successful prosecution of those responsible for the fire.

Supt Holland said he needed the help of the community to progress the investigation.

“His mum still hasn’t got any answers from what happened,” Supt Holland said.

Julieanna Szabo was joined by PCYC’s Sophia Mitchell, Senior Constable Angela Cooks and Redfern Police Area Command’s Despa Fitzgerald. Picture: Laura Sullivan

“We are particularly interested in speaking to anyone who may have lived in the area at the time.

“It’s been 20 years and we want to provide some answers to Arthur’s family who tragically lost their son.

“Someone must know something about this incident so I urge you to pick up the phone and call us — you can do this anonymously through Crime Stoppers,” Supt Holland said.

Arthur’s mother, who now lives in Rosebery, joined Supt Holland and urged anyone with information to come forward to give her family the closure they need.

Julieanna Szabo urged anyone with information to come forward to give her family the closure they need. Picture: Laura Sullivan

“It won’t bring him back but at least we can get the people who are responsible,” she said.

“He has given me strength to keep going and to keep fighting.”