Kings Cross arsonist Gregory Allan Brown back in court over false claims made during sex trial

A serial arsonist, who once spent 20 years in prison for causing the deaths of six backpackers in a hostel fire, has appeared in court after admitting to perverting justice during a recent trial.

The Supreme Court of Tasmania

A serial arsonist, who once spent 20 years in prison for causing the deaths of six backpackers in a Kings Cross hostel fire, has appeared in court after admitting to perverting justice during a recent sex case.

Gregory Allan Brown, 62, was accused of making false claims during his 2022 Supreme Court criminal trial for attempting to involve a person under 18 years in the production of child exploitation material.

Brown was found guilty in December 2022 after asking a 16-year-old girl, who stated she was 13, to send him intimate photos of herself over Facebook Messenger.

Police and fire brigade officers at scene of Downunder Backpackers Hostel fire at Kings Cross in Sydney where six backpackers died, 17/09/1989. Arsonist Gregory Allan Brown was later arrested and charged over the blaze. Picture: Robert Doran.

He subsequently received a wholly suspended 12-month prison sentence and served no jail time, but was later investigated by Tasmania Police over claims he made during the trial relating to his wife’s death in a car accident, and of witnessing violence while growing up.

On 17 September this year, Brown pleaded guilty to one count of perverting justice in the Hobart Magistrates Court, and on Tuesday appeared in the Supreme Court for a directions hearing on sentencing.

Acting Justice David Porter accepted a prosecution request for the case to be adjourned, and ordered Brown to return to court on Wednesday, 11 December.