Qld: Jealous arsonist found guilty of murdering own son

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2007
Qld: Jealous arsonist found guilty of murdering own son

A man who deliberately lit a house fire which killed three people .. including his
own son .. has been found guilty of murder.

A Supreme Court jury took just one day to find ERROL GRAHAM HAYES guilty of three counts
of murder and one count of arson.

HAYES will be sentenced at a later date .. but is facing a long stretch in jail.

The charge of murder carries an automatic life sentence in Queensland.







During the trial the Brisbane court was told HAYES .. a regular drug user .. set fire
to a wooden Queenslander-style house in suburban Annerley in the early hours of February
20.

HAYES' 18-month-old son JOSHUA .. his former partner THERESA DOMINIQUE MARCHETTI and
a 39 year old man .. MARK STEWART CHRISTENSEN .. died in the fire.

The court was told HAYES started the fire in a jealous rage because he suspected Ms
MARCHETTI had been unfaithful with Mr CHRISTENSEN.

Prosecutor ROSS MARTIN SC told the court HAYES and Ms MARCHETTI had been arguing constantly
in the week leading up to the fire.

During one argument Mr MARTIN said HAYES had told Ms MARCHETTI she would "burn alive".

A witness testified HAYES later made his way to the house where the three were sleeping
and lit the fire.

The witness told the court HAYES later said he only meant to start a small blaze that
would frighten Ms MARCHETTI and Mr CHRISTENSEN.

AAP RTV cf/pjo/bart

KEYWORD: HAYES (BRISBANE)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.