A mother who allegedly set fire to her Tuggeranong home while she and her two children were inside pleaded not guilty to the charge on Tuesday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 47-year-old woman, who cannot be named to protect her children's identities, was arrested after her home was found ablaze last month and authorities deemed it suspicious.
She was charged with committing arson intended to endanger life and has been remanded in custody.
Court documents allege a neighbour walking his dog noticed flames lapping at a window and ran to help the family.
He reported hearing the children screaming and the woman speaking to them calmly while he banged on windows and tried to gain entry.
Firefighters rescued the woman and two children from the home, all unconscious, and they were flown to Sydney for treatment. The mother and one child were put in an induced coma.
When the woman first appeared in court she was immediately taken away for a psychiatric assessment. On her next appearance she was refused bail.
The documents said the woman owed her ex-husband a $175,000 divorce settlement and had failed to pay the first $25,000 installment.
On Tuesday, the prosecutor asked for a longer adjournment than normal to prepare the brief of evidence as expert material was required.
Magistrate James Stewart declined to grant the extra time as the woman is in custody.
The matter will return to court in September.