Court throws out charges against Tiara Madison Cox for Pennington tobacco shop fire

A magistrate says police have had enough time to gather evidence against a woman who was charged during a wave of arson attacks against Adelaide tobacco stores.

A magistrate has thrown out a case against a woman arrested during a police investigation into SA’s illicit tobacco arson war.

On Tuesday, Magistrates Simon Smart dismissed the charges against Tiara Madison Cox, 24, after police prosecutors asked for eight more weeks before it could proceed.

The court heard the preliminary brief of evidence had not been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions because three key pieces of evidence were outstanding.

Ms Cox is no longer charged with two count of arson of a building or motor vehicle at Pennington.

“The items that are outstanding include a statement from owner of premises that was the subject to the arson and an insurance estimate to confirm the damage was in excess of $30,000, a statement from the Metropolitan Fire Service and the cell tower data,” police prosecutors told the court.

Tiara Cox was arrested after an alleged arson attack on the corner of Addison Rd and Wynette St, Pennington. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

The court heard requests from the investigating officer to the MFS had not been responded to, but the material would be available in four weeks.

Stephen Ey, for Ms Cox, asked the charges be dismissed saying he not received instructions because the evidence had not been disclosed to him.

Mr Smart said he was “not satisfied” a further adjournment would change the case’s position.

“I’m just not satisfied that the time that has been already allowed has been properly utilised,” Mr Smart said.

Ms Cox is no longer charged with two counts of arson. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

The court heard a partial copy of the evidentiary brief had been provided to Mr Ey via the court’s internal system, which included DNA evidence and CCTV footage allegedly placing Ms Cox at the scene.

Ms Cox, of no fixed address, was arrested in November last year by SA Police’s special task force into the illicit tobacco market, which was investigating the arson attack on Addison Rd.

On October 15, just before 5am, a vehicle was driven into the front of a gift shop, causing significant damage to the building’s structure.

After the crash, the shop – which had smoking accessories visible on shelves – was damaged further when a mattress at the front of the business was doused in an accelerant and set alight.

A court previously heard Ms Cox would contest the charges due to an “issue” of identity.

Mr Smart said prosecutors were free to relay the charges when the evidence was together.

Originally published as Court throws out charges against Tiara Madison Cox for Pennington tobacco shop fire