Stuart Lee charged with murder after alleged incident at Wheatsheaf
A man will face court later this year after being charged with murder and refusing to make an appearance at the matter’s first hearing in Ballarat.
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A man charged with murder refused to appear in court for his initial remand hearing.
The matter of Stuart Lee, 63, was heard in Ballarat Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Police initially charged Mr Lee with attempted murder following an altercation between him and a 69-year-old man in Wheatsheaf, near Daylesford, on Tuesday morning.
It is alleged Mr Lee set the older man on fire at a property on Wallaby Rd at 10.25am.
The victim was flown to the Alfred Hospital, but died later that night.
Mr Lee was arrested at the scene.
Later, the charge laid against Mr Lee became murder, in addition to intentionally causing serious injury and arson.
The court heard it was Mr Lee’s first time in custody and that he had some physical and mental health conditions.
His counsel told the court he “doesn’t wish to attend the court in person”.
No application for bail was made and Magistrate Hugh Radford remanded Mr Lee in custody.
He will appear for a committal hearing later this year.
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