A man accused of lighting the blaze in which 15 backpackers, including one Irish woman, died in the Queensland town of Childers last year will face trial in Brisbane not Bundaberg.
Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court Paul de Jersey ruled today to move the trial because of the time passed since the alleged offences, and the appeal prospects if a conviction is received in Bundaberg, a town close to Childers on Australia's east coast.
Mr Robert Paul Long is facing two counts of murder and one of arson relating to the blaze in June last year. He was committed to stand trial in January, but the proceedings have been delayed by numerous appeals for a change of venue.
"It is critically important, in the interests of the accused, the families of the alleged victims and the public generally, that the trial commence as soon as possible," Mr de Jersey said.
The trial, before Supreme Court Judge Peter Dutney, has been set down for six weeks beginning January 29th.
Of the 15 who died, four were Australians, six British, two Dutch, one Irish, one Japanese and one South Korean.
AFP