Police say hostel murder suspect confessed
Lawyers for the drifter accused of murder and arson following the Australian hostel fire that killed 15 young backpackers say he allegedly confessed to police that he started the blaze.
In Brisbane Magistrates Court, lawyers for Robert Paul Long say police claim he made the confession after he was shot while resisting arrest and believed he was dying.
Long's lawyers are trying to have members of the special police arrest team barred from testifying unless they are identified in court. Members of such teams have always been allowed to testify anonymously.
Earlier, a British tourist said Long asked her to leave a fire escape open so he could get in on the night of the tragedy. Lisa Duffy, 27, of Kent, testified by telephone from England.
Long, 37, is charged with arson and the murder of Australian twins Kelly and Stacey Slarke. He was not required to enter a plea. He faces life imprisonment if convicted. At the end of the hearing, which is expected to last two weeks, magistrate Michael Halliday will decide whether there is enough evidence to send Long to trial.
The twins were among six backpackers from Britain, four from Australia, two from the Netherlands and one each from Ireland, South Korea and Japan who died.
Ms Duffy said Long told her he had lung cancer during a late-night conversation on June 23 - the day of the fire. He also told her he felt suicidal.
She said Long also told her of his dislike for Christian Atkinson, one of the managers of the Palace Hostel in Childers, and for an Asian backpacker staying there. News reports have said that Long, a fruit picker, had been barred from the hotel.
"He wanted to get into the building ... to beat up (the Asian backpacker). He was pretty intent on getting in," Ms Duffy said. She did not say if she had left the exit open or not.
Another backpacker, Tony Gora, 20, of Ipswich said he remembered seeing Long sitting at a computer at the hostel about three hours before the fire.
