Ellouisa Brighton, 36, charged with three counts of murder over horror house fire

A mother has been charged with three counts of murder over the death of three young children in a horror house fire in Toowoomba.

Flowers and soft toys left by community members following a triple fatal house fire in Harristown. Picture: Kevin Farmer

A mother has been charged with murdering three of her children in a horror house fire in Toowoomba, as well as trying to kill others in the blaze.

Ellouisa Brighton, 36, on Tuesday was charged with three counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder and one count of arson after the fire.

Three of her children – a nine-year-old boy, a seven-year-old girl and a four-year-old girl – died after the fire.

Brighton, her 34-year-old male partner and others escaped the house after the fire at the Harristown property about 12.30am on Wednesday.

The nine-year-old died inside the house and the two girls later died in hospital.

After her partner escaped the fire he tried to help get the children out of the home, police said.

Emergency service personnel described the scenes of the fire as one of the worst in their careers.

Brighton remained in a critical condition in hospital on Tuesday, police said.

Her matter was briefly mentioned at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday afternoon.

Prosecutor Jordan Theed said Brighton was still unconscious in hospital and had not had an opportunity to seek legal advice.

“Ms Brighton is currently in hospital, I understand she’s still unconscious, in relation to charges of murder and other matters. Effectively the prosecution’s application is to adjourn it to Friday and see if she’s woken up yet.”

He later said: “Ms Brighton is apparently still in hospital and comatose.”

Ellouisa Brighton has been charged with three counts of murder. Photo: Facebook.

Acting Magistrate Nigel Rees adjourned the case to Friday.

Mr Rees ordered that she be remanded in custody and appear via video link on that date - if she awakens from her comatose state before then.

“Because she is in hospital and is hospitalised I will order that, should she come out of her coma, she be remanded in custody to appear via video,” the magistrate said.

He foreshadowed that he would order a brief of evidence so that the matter could progress.

The Courier-Mail last week revealed Brighton had used multiple names in different states, with interstate welfare authorities not alerting Queensland of her past.

She did not have any welfare history in Queensland.

At the weekend Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm said she had ordered a “complete and thorough investigation” into the tragedy.

“The loss of three lives in Toowoomba is a tragedy and my heart goes out to the family and the community,” she said.

Police maintained a constant guard of Brighton in hospital after the fire before they laid charges.

After the tragedy, Detective Superintendent George Marchesini confirmed police had some interaction with the family previously but would not go into further detail.

“It certainly wasn’t a premises that police were regularly attending,” he said.

Supt Marchesini said emergency service personnel were confronted with a horrific scene when they arrived.

“It was a scene that no one should have to see,” he said.

“And while we are first responders and are trained to deal with these sorts of incidents, I want to assure you that we are not immune to feeling the impact that it has had.”

Originally published as Ellouisa Brighton, 36, charged with three counts of murder over horror house fire