Roland Griffiths charged with murder of Kylie Griffiths after Albanvale fire

A man who police allege murdered his wife by setting the family home on fire was searching for a “favourite knife” earlier, court documents reveal.

A man accused of murdering his wife by setting her on fire had been drinking on the afternoon of the alleged offence and was searching for a “favourite knife” that day, court documents reveal.

Kylie Griffiths, 36, died as a result of her injuries when her Albanvale state housing home in Melbourne was set on fire on March 14 last year.

Her husband, Roland Griffiths, has been charged with his wife’s murder and the attempted murder of a teenager also present at the time who received serious burns and required transportation to the Royal Children’s Hospital in a critical condition.

Roland Griffiths is accused of murdering Kylie Griffiths after setting the couple’s Albanvale home on fire in March last year. Picture: Supplied

On Monday, what is scheduled to be a three-day committal hearing began in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, at the end of which magistrate Malcolm Thomas will decide whether there is enough evidence for Mr Griffiths to stand trial over the allegations.

Charge sheets released by the courts show Mr Griffiths, 38, has been charged with 13 offences, which along with murder and attempted murder include charges of intentionally damaging property.

At the time of the offending Mr Griffiths was unemployed and receiving government benefits, while the Sutherland St home was owned by the Department of Family Fairness and Housing.

A summary of the police case alleges that the accused had been drinking on the day of the alleged incident and, at about 5pm, he deliberately set fire to Ms Griffiths and the kitchen of their state housing home by pouring petrol over his wife and the area.

The Albanvale home that police allege Mr Griffiths set on fire. Picture: Jason Edwards

It alleges there had been multiple arguments between the accused and Ms Griffiths prior to the blaze, including one in which he threatened to “break her neck” and tried to locate a “favourite weapon,” which was described as a machete-style knife.

Before allegedly igniting the fire, the police summary states Mr Griffiths took a red fuel can from the front porch and began to pour petrol on the lounge room carpet and in the area near the front entry in order to block the exit.

It alleges he lit the fire by igniting a cigarette lighter after saying “you want me to do it?” and “don’t make me do it”.

Mr Griffiths threatened to break his wife’s neck, court documents state. Picture: Supplied

It also alleges that a teenager was in the petrol-soaked kitchen when Mr Griffiths allegedly set it alight, causing her serious burn injuries.

That teenager, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was forced to leave the house via a locked rear door and, according to the summary, heroically rescued another minor who was trapped in a bedroom – actions that police believe saved the child’s life.

Seven children were at the Sutherland St home at the time of the fire, the summary says.

On Monday, the court was told of a neighbour who jumped a fence into the property and applied a hose to Ms Griffiths. 

Originally published as Roland Griffiths charged with murder of Kylie Griffiths after Albanvale fire