- Man allegedly started fir as woman, kids slept
- Unprovoked incident targeted Africans, court told
- Magistrate "seriously concerned" by man's attitude
A FATHER of two who allegedly used a petrol-doused lawnmower to set fire to an African-Australian woman's home while she and her three children slept inside has been denied bail.
Sotiri Henry Margaritis, 36, appeared briefly under police guard in Richlands Magistrates Court this morning after being charged with arson and obstructing police in relation to the alleged incident on Mortimer Rd at Acacia Ridge, on Brisbane's southside, on December 30.
The court heard Mr Margaritis was just days earlier charged with going armed to cause fear and wilful damage after allegedly threatening other African-Australians at Grenier Park, also on Mortimer Rd.
The court heard both alleged incidents were unprovoked and targeted African-Australians.
Magistrate Leanne O'Shae said she was "seriously concerned" by Mr Margaritis' attitude towards people of African descent who lived in his local community.
"He's allegedly committed another offence while being on bail for going armed in public offences and there was a racial aspect to that matter and a racial aspect to this matter," she told the court.
"The defendant is facing very serious charges now. Arson carries a life sentence."
The court heard Mr Margaritis had allegedly dumped rubbish in the front yard of the home he later tried to burn down about 2pm on December 30.
He had also allegedly walked past the property with his own children, aged 10 and 11, and in a later incident the same day allegedly damaged the family's letterbox.
It heard the woman living at the address with her three young children, aged 10, six and two, had been awake at midnight when she allegedly noticed Mr Margaritis outside her property.
The court heard Mr Margaritis allegedly used fuel to ignite a lawnmower which started the fire.
Prosecutor Sen-Constable Trent Voigt said the fire damaged furniture and belongings in the carport and living room of the family's home, while smoke and water damage had been experienced right throughout the house.
He said Mr Margaritis lived just 200m away and on the same street as the family whose home he allegedly tried to torch.
Defence solicitor Peter Cook said his client worked full-time as a boilermaker and had lived in the house he owned on Mortimer Rd for more than eight years.
Mr Margaritis was remanded in custody to reappear for mention via video-link on January 24.
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