Shepparton Magistrates’ Court: Magistrate throws out arson charge

A Shepparton woman seen on CCTV walking “calmly” from a Seymour house fire has learnt her fate in court.

The fire destroyed the house on Kitchener Crescent, Seymour.

A Shepparton woman who was seen on CCTV walking “calmly” from a house fire after “raising her middle finger” at the property has had arson charges against her dropped.

Teeka Mackay-Blair, 30, fronted Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday on one charge of arson before Magistrate David Faram acquitted her of the charge.

On December 13, 2020, a fire broke out at a house on Kitchener Crescent, Seymour about 10.40pm, causing an estimated $200,000 in damage.

Following a lengthy investigation by police, Ms Mackay-Blair was charged by detectives on March 22, 2022 with one count of arson.

CCTV footage clearly showed Ms Mackay-Blair leaving the property moments after the fire had engulfed the home and “raising her middle finger at the house”.

Ms Mackay-Blair told police when interviewed that she was asleep when the fire started, and that she was suffering from a concussion at the time.

One of the witnesses for the prosecution was reluctant and eventually her statement was redacted.

The witness said, “I’ve been trying to have it (my statement) withdrawn for over a year”.

Mr Faram said that “it’s fair to observe this matter has changed quite significantly since this morning”.

“The absence now, and removal of statements, relied on by the prosecution, substantially changes the nature of this committal,” Mr Faram said.

Following final submissions by the prosecution and the defence, Mr Faram discharged Ms Mackay-Blair.

“Can a jury, when properly instructed, can lawfully convict the accused of the offence with which she has been charged... I am not so satisfied”.

Mr Faram noted that while you could see Ms Mackay-Blair walking away “calmly” from the scene of the fire on the CCTV footage, this alone was not enough to proceed to trial.