Scott Wyatt, the man who handed himself into police last week saying he had lit fireworks in two Canberra nightclubs more than six years ago, was refused bail on Friday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
More details have emerged in the ACT Magistrates Court surrounding the circumstances of both the alleged offences and how the 31-year-old came to hand himself into police.
Early in the morning on February 13, 2011 police got reports of an explosion at Meche nightclub followed by an explosion at ICBM, another nightclub on Northbourne Avenue.
One eyewitness, who suffered pain to his ears and a bleeding face, told police that while in the cubicle at Meche he had seen a large white ball with a lit fuse coming from it thrown from another cubicle, court documents say.
Police interviewed Wyatt - whose most recent address is listed on court documents as Penrith, NSW - on the morning of the explosions, but he denied involvement. He was released without charge. CCTV footage from both nightclubs were not available and the witness evidence could not be corroborated, police say.
Wyatt, who court documents say is also known as Scott Hutchinson, had worked for Sunset Fireworks in Ulladulla, and the company's owner told police in November 2011 that Wyatt may have taken fireworks without his knowledge, documents tendered to the court say.
It was not until January 13 this year that the man presented to Gungahlin police station saying he wanted to talk about Meche, as he had recently met the lord and wanted to confess. When he was taken to the interview room, it's alleged he produced a plastic bag which he said held the drug ice, and a syringe.
Prosecutor Trent Hickey, arguing against Wyatt's release on bail on Friday, said the man had also told officers there were explosives in a car outside.
He said the man's claims had resulted in the Gungahlin station being evacuated, locked down and a 100-metre area cordoned off. Mr Hickey said that while officers confirmed there was no bomb, the incident showed Wyatt's "unstable state of mind, particularly when affected by drugs."
"If he's having delusions or hearing things ... then how does he not pose a risk to the community," Mr Hickey said.
The prosecutor said Wyatt had a long-running problem with drugs, and a history of failing to appear at court.
In the interview after handing himself in, the man told police once he was evacuated from Meche he went to ICMB, where he lit another firework in the bathroom. This time, it's alleged he told police, the firework blew up in his face and "God stunned him with his own stupidity".
His Legal Aid defence lawyer told the court the man had not committed any significant offences since the 2011 explosions. She said he had recently returned to Canberra from Penrith in Sydney, and was "very motivated" to address his drug and mental health problems.
But Magistrate Bernadette Boss refused Wyatt bail, citing his unstable state, his ongoing drug use, and "what he does when he's in that situation".
The man, who appeared in court with his right arm bandaged from knuckles to elbow, is charged with two counts of arson, and one count of possessing drugs. He has not yet entered pleas.
He is due to next appear in court in early February.
