Wildfire suspect a lovelorn web-surfer
The man accused of starting one of Australia’s deadly wildfires is a lonely web surfer who liked dogs, always said “G’day” to neighbours, and was trying to find love online.
Brendan Sokaluk, 39, who reportedly once served as a volunteer firefighter, was named as the suspect police arrested last week.
Authorities are keeping Sokaluk at a secret location to protect him from potential reprisal attacks after a magistrate lifted a ban on publishing his name.
Sokaluk has been charged with one count of arson causing death and one of lighting a blaze in south-east Victoria state, known as the Churchill fire, that police said killed 10 people.
About 200 homes were destroyed in the fire, one of hundreds that blazed across Victoria on February 7 in Australia’s’ worst fire disaster. The confirmed death toll is 189 and will rise, police said.
“He was quiet. You wouldn’t know if he was odd or not,” said a neighbour, who did not want to be named.
“He would say G’day when you passed him.”
Neighbours say Sokaluk kept himself to himself and lived alone. One said she thought he was strange because she once saw him watering his lawn in the rain.
“I told my kids to keep away from him,” said the young mother. “Two of my friends lost their houses in the fire. I don’t know much about him but I’m glad he was caught.”
Sokaluk’s lawyer, Helen Spowart, argued in a hearing yesterday that Sokaluk’s identity should remain secret because of public anger and disgust over the case. She also raised concerns that her client’s family could be targeted by vigilantes.
But magistrate John Klestadt said: “Those suspected of vigilantism would not be prevented from behaving in an abhorrent way simply by suppressing his name.”
Sokaluk has not entered a plea and was remanded in custody until May 26.
On the social networking website MySpace, Sokaluk describes himself as a lovelorn single man who is hoping to find a young wife. He writes that his hero is “mother earth with out her we all would be dead (sic)”.
He lists his occupation as “semi-retired” and describes himself as a “young happy male who wants to meet a young loven female to marrid (sic_”.
Hate groups sprung up on Facebook. One called “Brendan Sokaluk, the Victorian Bushfires Arsonist, must burn in hell”, attracted more than 3,500 members. Police said they were seeking to have online postings about Sokaluk, including his photograph, removed or blocked. Some pages that were viewable appeared to have been disabled today.
Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe said publishing photographs of Sokaluk in the press or online could jeopardise his right to a fair trial.
Another lawyer for Sokaluk, Julian McMahon, said at least one member of Sokaluk’s family had received threats.
Facing community harassment, the family of a woman who had briefly dated Sokaluk released a statement via the police asking for the community to show understanding. The family was not identified.
Sokaluk faces a maximum sentence of 25 years on a deadly arson charge, and 15 years for lighting a fire. He was also charged with possessing child pornography, which carries a five-year maximum sentence.
Experts say deadly arson in wildfire cases is difficult to prove, partly because different fires often join one another, making it tough to link a blaze set by an arsonist with one that eventually kills people. The Churchill fire was one such combination of blazes.
Police suspect arson in at least two other fires, but have ruled out foul play in the rest.
Nine Network television reported Sokaluk was a former volunteer firefighter.
