Adrian Bux: Shepparton firebug allowed to roam Goulburn River bushland for 22 months before lighting second blaze
A Shepparton firebug – who lit two bushfires in March 2018 and January 2020 – was left to roam the riverbanks for 22 months without being questioned by police.
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A Shepparton firebug was allowed to roam the Goulburn River bushland for 22 months after lighting his first fire because of an “administrative error”, the Melbourne County Court has heard.
Judge Michael Bourke was dumbfounded Adrian Bux, 45, was not found between lighting his first fire near the Goulburn River banks in March 2018, and his second in January this year – despite being well-known to police and the Aboriginal community.
“This man has always lived in the Shepparton area … (and has) consistently lived and camped along the river,” Judge Bourke said.
“I just do not accept that he could not be located.”
Judge Bourke said there was a “very good chance” the second fire would not have been lit if the first fire was dealt with.
The court heard Mr Bux used an accelerant in the first fire, and the blaze required a helicopter to extinguish.
However, Crown Prosecutor Vivienne Jones said in “sworn evidence”, police tried to locate Mr Bux after the 2018 fire but had been unsuccessful.
She said while an alert for Mr Bux would normally have been set in the Shepparton police system afterwards, an “administrative error” meant he was not linked to the 2018 fire when interviewed and bailed for another matter in November 2019.
The court heard it was speculated the alert was never set to begin with.
Bux’s lawyer David Swan said after the first blaze, his client continued to live his life on the riverbanks close to where he lit it, and said his client made “no efforts” to avoid police.
But Judge Bourke said the 22-month delay between blazes did not absolve Mr Bux of his offending, and said he would most likely serve more time in prison.
The court heard Mr Bux also had a “significant series” of disabilities with a long-term dependence on alcohol and an IQ of 59.
Mr Bux has been behind bars for 275 days and will be sentenced on Monday.
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