NSW teen Micah Gilham has arson charge dropped by prosecutors over Goolwa South house fire

A young man has walked from court after a charge of arson was dropped, following a massive fire that destroyed a Goolwa Airbnb in a petrol stunt.

Charges have been dropped against a young NSW man previously accused of starting a fire during a friends’ reunion trip and burning down a two-storey Airbnb in Goolwa South.

On Tuesday, Micah Gilham, 20, of Bangor, faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court where one count of arson was withdrawn by prosecutors.

Outside court, defence counsel Travis Moran said the ordeal was simply a “terrible accident”.

“Proceedings have been withdrawn and Mr Gilham would like to move on,” he said.

A court previously heard that, on November 26 last year, Mr Gilham and his friends were staying at a $900,000 rented holiday home on Bristow-Smith Ave, owned by a grandfather of one of the party.

Micah Gilham, left, with his lawyer Travis Moran, outside court. Picture: Dean Martin

The house on Bristow-Smith Ave at Goolwa South was completely gutted Picture: Google

The gutted holiday house on Bristow-Smith Ave in Goolwa.

Prosecutors had alleged a fire broke out in the garage of the property after a petrol can was accidentally set alight during what they described as a “silly mistake”.

After the alarm was raised at 11.30pm, it took nine firefighting crews to eventually put out the fire.

The four-bedroom, $250-a-night property, complete with a pool room, was completely destroyed in the blaze. The holiday home looks out over a vacant block at the end of a cul-de-sac that neighbours the popular South Lakes Golf Club.

On Tuesday, prosecution ultimately deemed Mr Gilham was not criminally responsible for the incident.

Mr Gilham leaves court after his charge was dropped. Picture: Dean Martin

In December last year, the Advertiser contacted Mr Gilham’s lawyer Travis Moran, asking questions about a public video in which Mr Gilham was preaching to a NSW Christadelphian congregation.

Thirty minutes later, the video had been removed from the public domain.

Titled the “Promise of Noah”, a fresh faced Mr Gilham draws parallels between the modern world and the world that preceded the destruction of humanity just prior to the Great Flood.

Belonging to a millenarian Christian group, Mr Gilham also makes references to contemporary events believed to be a signal of the End Times.

Originally published as NSW teen Micah Gilham has arson charge dropped by prosecutors over Goolwa South house fire