Alleged arsonist Dimitri Iliev gave grim warning days before Adelaide vet clinic blaze, court told

An alleged arsonist warned the daughter of a family-owned vet clinic to “watch the news” before it went up in flames in a revenge attack over an exposed affair, a court heard.

A man accused of arson allegedly told the daughter of vet owners to “watch the news” just days before the family-owned clinic went up in flames and made headlines, a court heard.

Dimitri Gueorguiev Iliev, 34, pleaded not guilty to arson and attempted arson charges when he faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court via video link on Tuesday.

However, prosecution argued Mr Iliev had strong motive to commit the offences.

The court heard Mr Iliev and the victim were close and had a business together but their relationship “soured” towards the end of 2023 and the victim later told Mr Iliev’s partner about an affair he was having with another woman.

The court earlier heard his alleged offending was an act of revenge.

Dimitri Iliev has been charged with the arson attack on an Adelaide vet clinic. Pictures: Supplied

It heard the alleged victim admitted herself into a mental health clinic, where she was later allegedly threatened by Mr Iliev.

“She’s at the mental health clinic at this point and he says ‘one thing you said was right, I can’t get to you at the mental ward but I can get to your family. See you later (…) watch the news’,” prosecution said.

She said he also made a noise “which in my submission is a noise about explosions”.

Prosecution said the exchange occurred on March 5 and the victim received more “menacing messages” from the accused the following day.

Pets Health Hilton Vet Centre was destroyed in a blaze in the early hours on March 7 while the Pets Health Vet Clinic at O’Halloran Hill was targeted in an alleged attempted arson just hours later.

Prosecution earlier told the court Mr Iliev “planned” attacks on two vet clinics.

Dimitri Iliev has been charged with the arson attack on an Adelaide vet clinic. Pictures: Supplied

Counsel for Mr Iliev argued having a motive “and even expressing it” did not constitute involvement in the offence, adding there was “no evidence” to the state of Mr Iliev’s mind.

He argued his client was not the contractor but even if it was accepted Mr Iliev had contracted his co-accused, one could not conclude it was arson that was contracted.

“The prosecution, ultimately going to a jury, have to identify what the agreement was or what offence it was that was produced,” he said.

“In my submission, there is simply no evidence of a general agreement to harm of a general type, whatever it might be.”

On Tuesday, prosecution also cited evidence of a recorded conversation between Mr Iliev’s two co-accused, who cannot be named, where they discuss an arson and who they were committing the offence for.

But Magistrate Justin Wickens said information in that conversation is “someone else’s information” given to the co-accused and therefore “the most unreliable form of evidence there is”.

“That is why it is plainly inadmissible,” he said.

Mr Wickens determined overall there was a case to answer and committed Mr Iliev to trial in the District Court with an arraignment date in May.

Originally published as Alleged arsonist Dimitri Iliev gave grim warning days before Adelaide vet clinic blaze, court told