A Canberra man accused of lighting two fires in the middle of summer called a concerned passer-by a "do-gooder" and told her to mind her own business, a court has heard.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The trial of Shane John Mason, 50, began in the ACT Supreme Court on Tuesday, where he is accused of starting the fires in a similar area in Yarralumla in early January.
Passers-by noticed both fires, called triple-0, and they were both extinguished.
Firefighters arrived at the first fire, on January 5, and noticed a man alleged to be Mason hiding in long grass.
Police went to the area and say they found Mason in an Akubra hat and a dark jacket, with a cigarette lighter, a large hunting knife, and cannabis in his possession.
According to the Crown, Mason said:
"I didn't think that there was any way you'd find me."
A Canberran walking around the lake had noticed the fire and a man nearby.
She said when she mentioned calling emergency services, he became angry and abusive.
The woman told the court that the man replied:
"Why would you want to do that? F---ing do-gooder."
"Why would you want to waste police time, mind your own business."
The woman walked away and called triple-0.
Police went over to him, telling him to come out.
He was badly burnt and began grunting and screaming, the court heard. He was treated for burns in the Canberra Hospital and then in Sydney.
He was found with a lighter and a multi-tool.
Mason was sleeping rough at the time, and had a long history of mental illness spanning 20 years.
He had only been released from a psychiatric treatment facility two months prior to the first fire.
His barrister Ray Livingston said his client claimed to have no memory of either of the fires, but does not believe he lit them.
Mr Livingston said his client was camping in the forest near the scene of the two fires.
In the second case, he thinks he was heavily intoxicated the night before, but woke up and saw smoke, running over and trying to put the fire out.
If found to have lit the fires, his defence of mental impairment will hinge on whether he knew what he was doing was wrong at the time.
Mr Livingston said his client was experiencing a relapse of mental health problems at the time, in the form of mania and psychosis.
He may have had a delusional justification for starting the fires, the barrister said.
The trial continues before Justice Hilary Penfold on Wednesday.
