Woman charged with alleged double murder of brother and sister

A 34-YEAR-OLD woman has been charged with the 2004 murder of Brisbane brother and sister April and Ian Bailey.

A 34-YEAR-OLD woman has been charged with the 2004 murder of Brisbane brother and sister April and Ian Bailey.

The woman, who was taken into custody on Saturday, has also been charged with arson and remanded in custody to appear in Redcliffe Magistrates Court on Monday.

The siblings are believed to have been killed before their Deception Bay home was set on fire on May 28, 2004.

Ian, 29, had been caring for his 31-year-old sister, who was recovering from schizophrenia and working as a beautician.

Ms Bailey’s daughter Violet was just four when she witnessed the deaths and was discovered uninjured at the scene by police.

Violet Bailey, 16, was just four when she witnessed the deaths of her mother and uncle. Picture: Annette Dew

Detective Inspector Damien Hansen said the accused woman was an associate of the siblings and that part of the alleged motive for the homicides was drug related.

The accused was identified after police used new technology to analyse triple- zero calls made before the house fire, in which Mr Bailey is believed to be heard yelling.

Det Insp Hansen said he expected more people would be arrested as the investigation continued.

He said the investigation had been helped by a number of people who had not previously given evidence, but came forward after police launched a campaign for information last year.

“They’ve changed their lifestyles, their morals, and that has helped us greatly in solving this,” he said.

A $250,000 reward and the promise of indemnity still stands for anyone with information regarding the deaths.