Sunshine North factory fire: Phoenix Darren John Tims pleads guilty over double fatal blaze
A Kurunjang man has admitted to lighting a deadly factory blaze that claimed two lives, while another maintains his innocence over the devastating fire.
One of three men accused of lighting a fatal fire that killed two people has pleaded guilty to arson causing death, a court has heard.
The fire started at a factory on Burnett St in Sunshine North and spread to a Marshall St factory which back onto the site on February 23, 2024.
Two people inside the neighbouring building died after being caught in the blaze.
Kurunjang man Phoenix Darren John Tims, and Melton South men Atem Akoi Thon and Semaj Cigobia fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday for a committal.
Tims pleaded guilty to two counts of arson causing death, destroying a vehicle by arson and stealing a vehicle.
Mr Thon pleaded not guilty to two counts of arson causing death, destroying a vehicle by arson and stealing a vehicle.
He also pleaded not guilty to destroying property valued $1.4m at Sunshine North by committing arson and damaging another factory valued at $200,000 by committing arson.
Mr Thon was not represented and the court heard he had recently sacked his legal counsel.
Mr Cigobia is accused of assisting Tims and Mr Thon after the alleged arson.
He is charged with destroying a white ute by committing arson and criminal damage by fire to impede the apprehension, prosecution, conviction and punishment of people who had allegedly committed arson causing death.
He is also accused of allegedly possessing three prohibited weapons, being a sword and two machetes.
The court heard the weapons were allegedly found in a search conducted alongside the investigation into the fire.
Mr Cigobia pleaded not guilty to the five charges before the committal commenced.
The court heard a large number of charcoal filters which were found at two spots at the fire site contributed to the fire load and an unknown amount of accelerant was poured to start the fire.
At the time of the fire CCTV footage captured a person jumping a nearby fence with a red fuel container in hand.
The court heard it was possible the “illegal” construction of a lean-to at the property may have contributed to the fire spreading and there was cannabis cultivation material at the site.
Mr Cigobia and Mr Thon will appear at the County Court for directions hearings in October.
Mr Tims is expected to plead guilty in the County Court in April 2026.
Bail for all three men was extended.
