Business owner Gabriele Demedio’s arson charge dismissed

A Queensland businessman accused of burning down a house on a block of land earmarked for future development has had a win in court.

Gabriele Demedio is the owner of this property that suspiciously burnt down in 2020.

A Queensland businessman accused of burning down a house on a block of land earmarked for future development has had a win in court.

Casa Nostra Motel Rockhampton owner Gabriele Demedio has owned and operated motels throughout Queensland over the past 35 years including in Toowoomba and Mackay.

Gabriele Demedio outside the Casa Nostra Villas in Parkhurst.

He was charged with arson in April in 2021 over a house fire at a Yaamba Road, Parkhurst property which was reported to police on July 15, 2020, about 11pm.

The block of land backs on to his new motel complex.

However, the charge was dropped on March 6 after the Director of Public Prosecution’s crown prosecutor Joshua Phillips received a 33-page report on February 15 and determined the contents to be “fatal” to the Crown’s case.

Defence lawyer Dominic Jorgensen of Rees R and Sydney Jones said the DPP’s decision had come as no surprise to the defence team.

“When the brief of evidence was finally disclosed, it was obvious police viewed the fire as suspicious from day one, and Mr Demedio immediately became the target of their investigation,” he said.

“The police scientific investigation into the cause of the fire was equivocal at best.

“Unfortunately, the scientist’s report was not disclosed to the defence until almost 14 months into the fire investigation.

“Data extracted from Mr Demedio’s mobile telephone as part of the police investigation was ultimately relied on by the defence to show he was nowhere near the house at the time of the fire.

“Mr Demedio co-operated with police and insurance investigators throughout, and his insurer had paid out on his policy notwithstanding the police investigation.”

Mr Demedio said he was “very pleased this saga is finally over”.

Gabriele Demedio outside the Casa Nostra Villas in Parkhurst.

“The past three years have been stressful, and I’m grateful for the support of my family and friends,” he said.

“It is an experience I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.

“I have worked hard my whole life, having left school at age 14.

“A lot of effort has gone into developing the Casa Nostra Motel complex into high quality tourist accommodation of which the Rockhampton region can be proud.

“I can now look forward to throwing myself back into my business.”

Originally published as Business owner Gabriele Demedio’s arson charge dismissed