Black Saturday Churchill arsonist Brendan Sokaluk eligible for parole in June

The impending release of Black Saturday arsonist Brendan Sokaluk has sparked fear among the townsfolk whose lives he devastated.

Jon Kaila

6 min read

February 7, 2023 - 6:00AM

Black Saturday Churchill arsonist Brendan Sokaluk eligible for parole in June

Victoria

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Victoria’s worst killer will be free to walk the streets again in months, prompting fears he will return to the community he devastated.

The Herald Sun can reveal that arsonist Brendan Sokaluk, who killed 11 people in a Black Saturday fire at Churchill, will be eligible for parole in June.

Tuesday is 14 years to the day since that tragic blaze.

Sokaluk is also expected to receive “emergency management days” – time off his sentence for “hardship” experienced while incarcerated during the pandemic.

Shirley Gibson’s sons David and Colin died trying to save the family home in the 2009 Churchill fires. Picture: Jason Edwards

The news of his imminent freedom has shocked the small country town of Churchill who “hope and pray” he never returns to the community.

Shirley Gibson, whose sons Colin, 49, and David, 47, died trying to save her single-storey Western red cedar home in Hazelwood South, said time did not heal wounds.

“I can’t ever forgive him,” the 86-year-old said.

“It broke my heart losing my kids.

“I don’t hate him, but I wouldn’t have him in my house. Hating him just consumes me, not him.

“He’s a sick boy, a simple boy, but what he did killed my boys and it breaks my heart I’ll never see them again. It is what it is, him getting out. He’s done his time. But I can’t ever forgive him.”

Brendan Sokaluk.

Sokaluk’s father Kazimir Sokaluk. Picture: Paul Jeffers

The Herald Sun can reveal Sokaluk, now 53, still owns a home in Churchill and his family continues to strongly support him.

His mum, who has changed her name to Louisa Edge, and his brother Nickolas, still live in Churchill. His dad, Kas, has moved to an aged-care facility in Traralgon, but regularly drives the 15-minute journey to Churchill to shop.

The family declined to talk to the Herald Sun last week.

Sokaluk admitted he lit the ferocious blaze at 1.32pm on Friday, February 7, 2009, but claimed it was a “stupid accident”.

Firefighters tackle the fire near Churchill.

At the time, it was 43.6C, rising to almost 47C, with 70km/h winds and low humidity. The fire travelled 7km in just 50 minutes.

The inferno, which police later discovered was started in two locations, was finally brought under control on February 19.

It killed 11 people, destroyed 156 homes and spread through 36,000 hectares, ravaging several Victorian townships in its path.

Sokaluk was arrested on February 12 and charged the next day with arson causing death and also with possessing child abuse images.

Locals said they remembered Sokaluk lighting fires in the area from the age of eight and peering into the houses of lone females with cameras.

Some urged his mum – then called Louise Sokaluk – to seek help for him. As he grew older, the problems only got worse.

The Churchill inferno killed 11 people.

“As soon as it happened, everybody knew who did it,” one local woman said. “He had grown up lighting fires around the place and no one in that family had done a damn thing to address it.

“You couldn’t have a conversation with him. He just wanted to shock you. You’d ask how he was and he’d respond, ‘I caught and burnt a cat today’, stuff like that. He wasn’t normal.”

Steven Barling, the Churchill CFA captain, said Sokaluk tried to join the volunteer organisation in 1998.

“He applied but he was rejected before we even considered him,” he said. “We all had stories about him.

“I wouldn’t call him odd, he was cunning. He was smart in some ways … it was like he was putting it on. There was just something weaselly about him. No one trusted him and he wouldn’t be welcome back here.

“I hope and pray he doesn’t come back because there are a lot of people who would be after him. People want to kill him.”

Another local, who wished to remain anonymous, said she was warned by Sokaluk’s mum not to speak to police.

“She knew what happened but believed talking to police was worse than what he did – killing 11 innocent people,” she said. “The lives he destroyed, the families he wrecked, but it was still all about protecting them.

“He might get parole soon, but he should not come back here. He has not admitted he deliberately did it, he has not said sorry. It was malicious. He might have moved on but the community hasn’t.”

The blaze was finally brought under control on February 19.

Sokaluk confessed he threw a cigarette out the window at Jelleffs Outlet, but told police he thought he had put it out. He had no explanation for phoning triple-0 seconds later saying a blaze had started and it was too big for him to put out. He had no reason for being at the edge of the bluegum eucalyptus plantation in the sweltering heat as others took shelter. He also had no explanation for why the fire had two points of ignition.

He was found guilty in March 2012 of 10 counts of arson causing death. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

Sokaluk was not charged with the death of Gertrude “Trudy” Martin as it was ruled she died of a heart attack fleeing the fire engulfing her home and not of the blaze itself. Sokaluk was handed 17 years and nine months in prison, with a non-parole period of 14 years.

Justice Paul Coghlan said: “For the victims, these were and are life-changing events and no sentence that I impose can compensate for their loss.”

He was given leniency for having autism and a borderline intellectual disability, a diagnosis he received after his arrest.

The Director of Public Prosecutions unsuccessfully appealed the length of Sokaluk’s sentence.

Soon, he will be free again.

Premier Daniel Andrews on Tuesday said Sokaluk’s release was a matter for the parole board.

“On this day, above all days, we send our thoughts and prayers and best wishes to every family touched by those fires,” he said.

“In terms of that individual, he’s where he should be right now.

“As for his release, that is a matter for the parole board and it’s appropriate that they be allowed to go through their processes.

“And I don’t want to put at risk or jeopardise that process by running a commentary on it.

“But I think today is a day where we can reflect, and for one day, share in the grief and pain that so many carry with them every single day.”

The victims

Alfred and Scott Frendo

Scott (pictured) and his father Alfred Frendo died while fleeing their Callignee property.

Alfred “Fred” Frendo was 58 when he died in his vehicle as he was trying to flee his home at 320 Old Callignee Rd, Callignee, on February 7, 2009. His son Scott, 27, also died fleeing

the property. The father and son had tried to protect the property before evacuating.

Colin and David Gibson

Siblings Colin and David Gibson, died at their parents’ Hazelwood South property.

Colin Gibson, 49, and his younger brother David, 47, died on February, 7, 2009 at their parents’ property at 420 Glendonald Rd, Hazelwood South. Both experienced firefighters, Colin and David had travelled independently from their own homes to their parents’ house to try to protect it.

Alan, Miros and Luke Jacobs, and Nathan Charles

Alan Jacobs, wife Miros, son Jacob and friend Nathan Charles died in the Black Saturday fires.

Callignee fire victim Nathan Charles.

Alan Jacobs, aged 51 years, his wife Miros, 50, their son, Luke, 21, and Luke’s friend Nathan Charles, also 21, all died at the Jacobs’ house at 1594 Traralgon Creek Rd, Koornalla, on February, 7, 2009. They had sheltered in the workshop under the house, which they considered a ‘safe haven’.

Luke Jacobs, 21, died with his family and his friend, Nathan, while sheltering at their Koornalla home during the 2009 fire.

Annette Leatham

Annette Leatham was 51 years old when she died at her daughter’s property at 5 Cooks Rd, Callignee, on February, 7, 2009. She and her husband Rodney were helping her daughter and husband protect their home. But as they attempted to flee in two separate vehicles, the ute Annette was travelling in stalled. Annette tried to run back to the house but fell and Rodney was unable to save her.

Gertrude Martin

Gertrude ‘Trudy’ and Erich Martin were married in Germany in 1953 and migrated to Australia in 1956. Mrs Martin was 80 years old when she died on February, 7, 2009 from a heart attack, after escaping her burning house at 1515 Jeeralang North Rd, Jeeralang.

Martin Schultz

Martin Schultz and his dog Kelly died in the car while fleeing the fire.

Martin Schultz, 33, and his dog, Kelly, died in the car in which they had fled from the fire at their home at 20 Factory Road, Callignee, on February, 7, 2009. At about 7pm Martin made a phone call sounding distraught. He said: “There’s a tree across the road and I’m on fire.” That was the last known contact Martin had with anyone. Martin’s body was found in his burnt-out car in a creek bed on Symons Road a week later.