Aorshalim Nabeel Kofan allegedly lit North Epping home on fire
A young woman has faced court after she allegedly lit a North Epping granny flat on fire after having an argument with her boyfriend.
Northern District Times
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A young woman who allegedly lit her shared granny flat on fire after an argument with her boyfriend has fronted court.
Aorshalim Nabeel Kofan, 20, who was charged with two offences; damaging property by fire and damaging property, the second being a domestic violence offence, faced Burwood Local Court on Thursday.
It comes after multiple fire crews were called to a granny flat at the back of a North Epping property engulfed in flames about 10pm Wednesday.
Seven fire trucks responded to the blaze on Bailey Crescent and it was extinguished before 11pm, a NSW Fire spokesman said.
Kofan donned black slacks and a dark grey hoodie with her hood cover on as she was escorted by police to court cells this morning ahead of her appearance.
In court, her lawyer made a bail application saying Kofan had no criminal record in NSW and had no mental health conditions at present while she did have suicidal thoughts in mid-2019.
Yet police prosecutor Rainer Craze asked for bail to be refused.
While he noted she had no criminal record in NSW, he told the court she had the intention of moving back to her hometown of Perth.
He also said her phone was destroyed in the fire which made it difficult for police to contact her.
Prosecutor Craze said that it is noted in the fact sheets that there could have been a fatality as a result of the fire.
Her lawyer entered a plea of not guilty to the first charge of damaging property by fire and a plea of guilty to the second of damaging property.
Magistrate Margaret McGlynn formally refused bail saying, “the nature of the event was most serious offence” and that “people could have died.
“She is charged with the most concerning set of facts to do with damaging property by fire and also destroying other property a television, bedside table and two coffee mugs,” Ms McGlynn told the court.
She said the prosecution were concerned because there were other people in the house when the fire was allegedly lit.
“There are clear bail concerns and that’s what bail is all about from these most concerning set of events.
“There is a concern that if she was released in the community, she could commit a serious offence and that offence may be one that endangered the safety of the community,” Ms McGlynn told the court.
She also noted the risk of Kofan failing to reappear in court because facts state she wanted to return to Perth.
Magistrate McGlynn told the court she was concerned with the accused’s psychiatric history and alleged involvement with petrol in the past.
Earlier on Thursday, Detective Inspector Mark Christie said the granny flat was “well alight” when police arrived.
“The damage has been extensive. The granny flat is still under investigation by our crime scene police,” Det Insp Christie told reporters on Thursday.
He said four residents of the home — including Ms Kofan and her 27-year-boyfriend — were able to flee the home unharmed.
Firefighters were able to contain the blaze from spreading to nearby homes, however several nearby residents self-evacuated as a precaution.
Insp Christie said police were taking the incident “very seriously”.
“Thankfully NSW Fire and Rescue contained the fire to the granny flat (...) but the home sustained significant damage,” he said.
“It did come close to surrounding residences — it was very lucky no one was injured in what could have easily been tragic circumstances.”
A NSW police spokesman said officers had not been called to the residence before.
North Epping resident Danielle Smalley who lives in the house just behind the fire said she saw people climbing out of windows as the house burnt up in flames before calling emergency services.
“We are in the house behind and saw flames which flared up very quickly,” she told The Northern District Times.
“We saw people climbing out the bottom windows and trying to douse it with flames
“Lots of pops and bangs. Lots and lots of thick grey smoke.”
Ms Smalley said she later went outside and heard a woman yelling from the police paddy wagon.
“We could just hear her banging on the walls inside and yelling,” she said.
