Lawyer Christopher Sun refused bail for fire in Sydney Park
With bushfires raging across the state, a high-flying lawyer decided to head to a nearby park and let off some fireworks. He initially told police he was there to do ‘exercise’. But witnesses gave a different account.
Southern Courier
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A CommBank lawyer allegedly lit a firework and threw it into bushland causing a blaze, a court has heard.
Christopher Sun, 34, from St Ives, was arrested at Sydney Park in St Peters after witnesses stomped on the fire to put it out on Thursday about 9.45pm.
He appeared at Central Local Court today and was refused bail.
A total fire ban has been in place across Sydney due to extreme conditions and the ongoing NSW bushfires.
Police allege members of the public prevented Mr Sun from leaving the scene.
Magistrate Philip Stewart read out part of the police facts in court, which alleged witnesses saw him throw a firework over a fence into bushland.
Mr Stewart said damage caused by the NSW bushfires had been widely publicised in the media and the risk was high for similar serious fires.
“It has been all over the news and one would have to live in a vacuum not to appreciate the risks of fires and what they may cause under the circumstances,” Magistrate Stewart said.
Police seized cigarette lighters and a variety of sparklers and fireworks from Mr Sun’s vehicle.
They also found remnants of a firework at the fire scene.
Police allege Mr Sun initially denied lighting the fire and told police he was simply doing some exercise in the park.
The court was told Mr Sun works as a lawyer for Commonwealth Bank.
“His being a lawyer makes it worse. He should know the rules and regulations around bushfires,” the prosecutor said.
The prosecutor alleged witnesses saw him trying to leave the area after the fire started.
“He chose to play with a firework in a total fire ban and tried to leave when the fire had started.”
Mr Sun’s defence argued he did not throw the firework into bushland but rather kicked it to try and put it out.
“He placed it on some kind of concrete and it has fallen and has lit up some grass,” he said.
“First he tried to kick it into the water and has run to get a bottle of water from his car and has returned to the scene.”
The defence said it was simply a matter of stupidity rather than Mr Sun trying to light a fire.
The fire burned about 10 square metres of bushland.
His matter has been adjourned until Monday, November 25. He is facing three charges of
cause or set fire to the property of another or Crown, fail to comply with total fire ban order, handle explosive/precursor without authorising licence.