Australian bushfire suspect named

A man who started a bushfire which has now killed over 189 people, has finally been named by courts, after a ban was placed on publishing his name.

Allegedly, Brendan Sokaluk deliberately started a fire in Churchill, in which 11 people perished. The 39 year old, from the Gippsland Region, was not in court to hear the judge lifting the ban on publishing his name. He faces a maximum 25 year jail sentence for deadly arson, and a maximum 15 year jail sentence for arson. He was also charged with possessing child pornography, which carries a possible five-year term. The court was packed with journalists, but the accused chose to stay in protective custody, as he has for the past few weeks for his personal safety. Mr Sokaluk's defence lawyer told the court that there was an unprecedented level of emotion, anger and disgust at his alleged offences. She said that even though her client was in protective custody there was a risk from vigilante attacks on him and his family, and asked that his name remain suppressed. The judge ruled that as locals already knew who he was, a suppression would not be effective. The prosecution has asked for extra time to prepare its case, saying there would be up to 200 witnesses to interview. The man was also found with child pornography, which faces a 5 year sentence maximum. [via bbc]