Phillip Alastair Harris committed to stand trial in Toowoomba Supreme Court on charges of murder, arson and animal cruelty

The 30-year-old man has been committed to stand trial on a charge of murder arising from the death of a 63-year-old man found after a South Toowoomba house fire.

A 30-year-old man charged with murder arising from a house fire in Toowoomba has been committed to stand trial.

Phillip Alastair Harris appeared before Toowoomba Magistrates Court this week for a committal hearing in which 14 witnesses were cross examined by his barrister David Jones KC.

Mr Harris was charged with murder arising from the death of 63-year-old Peter Weaver, whose dismembered and charred remains were found inside a Rivett Street house by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services crews called to a blaze at the South Toowoomba home 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

The remains of a dismembered dog were also allegedly found inside the home by emergency crews that night.

The case against Mr Harris had been delayed by the completion of the police brief of evidence, including DNA results, and other reports.

Mr Harris was not required to enter any pleas to the charges which include murder, misconduct with a corpse, arson, serious animal cruelty, entering a dwelling and committing an indictable offence and serious assault of police.

Upon the completion of the committal hearing Mr Jones said it was conceded there was a prima facie case against his client and he conceded to the matter being committed to trial on the charges.

Magistrate Clare Kelly remanded Mr Harris in custody and committed him to stand trial in the Toowoomba Supreme Court at a date to be set by the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.