Phillip Alastair Harris charged with murder of Peter Weaver found dead in Rivett St house in 2019

A 30-year-old man, charged with murder arising from the death of a man in a South Toowoomba home in 2019, could face trial this year. Here’s the latest.

A 30-year-old Toowoomba man charged with murder in 2019 arising from the discovery of a man’s body inside a house on fire is expected to go to trial later this year.

Phillip Alastair Harris was charged in December 2019 with the murder of 63-year-old Peter Weaver, whose allegedly dismembered remains were found inside a Rivett St, South Toowoomba, house gutted by fire on the night of December 15, 2019.

Police and fire investigators at a South Toowoomba crime scene following a fatal house fire in Rivett St, Tuesday, December 17, 2019. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Queensland Fire and Emergency Service officers allegedly also found the remains of a dismembered dog in the same room.

Mr Harris has been held in custody since his arrest on charges of murder, misconduct with a corpse, arson, serious animal cruelty and entering a dwelling with intent to commit an offence.

He has not as yet been called upon to enter any pleas to the charges.

The case had been delayed by various issues including Queensland’s DNA testing problems but the trial was to go ahead late last year, however, the unavailability of the arresting officer to give evidence saw the matter adjourned again.

Police and fire investigators at a South Toowoomba crime scene following a fatal house fire in Rivett St, Monday, December 16, 2019. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The case was revisited in the Supreme Court on Wednesday, January 31, with the court told that there was to be an update on the officer’s availability in the coming weeks with the possibility he would be back at work soon after that.

Justice Martin Burns said the trial would proceed in the second half of this year and adjourned the matter for a review in the coming months.