Christopher Mark Grosser to stand trial on attempted murder, arson charges arising from house fire

The 39-year-old is accused of attempted murder and arson arising from a Darling Heights house fire.

A Toowoomba man charged with attempted murder and arson arising from a house fire in Darling Heights is expected to go to trial before the Supreme Court in April.

Christopher Mark Grosser sustained serious burns allegedly from the fire that gutted a Quinlan Court house just after midnight February 13, 2021.

He was not required to be in court when his matters were mentioned in Toowoomba.

Barrister David Jones KC, on behalf of Mr Grosser’s barrister Jessica Goldie, told the court a submission would be sent to the prosecution but if that submission was not accepted Mr Grosser would be ready to go to trial.

The 39-year-old is charged with attempted murder and arson arising from a house fire in Darling Heights in February 2021.

Mr Jones said it was expected the trial would last up to five days, however, if Mr Grosser was called to give evidence the trial might stretch out to seven days. The court was told that due to his injuries Mr Grosser spoke slowly and quietly and may need a break from court proceedings.

Mr Grosser has not been required as yet to enter pleas to the charges of attempted murder and arson.

The 39-year-old was initially remanded in custody and remained in a Brisbane hospital until his then solicitor Kyna Morice obtained bail for him in September 2021 into the care of his family in Brisbane mainly on the grounds that there was no correctional facility in Queensland capable of caring for his needs due to the extent of his injuries.

Police claim a 43-year-old woman was found outside the house with stab wounds on the night of the fire.

She had since made a physical recovery.

Justice Martin Burns set the matter down as trial number two for the Supreme Court sittings in Toowoomba in April.