Man charged over Prahran fire that killed arsonist

A man who allegedly deliberately set fire to a Prahran business, injuring another arsonist who later died in hospital, has been charged with causing the death.

The 44-year-old man was arrested at his Fitzroy address on Thursday morning.

Police say the two men poured accelerant inside the premises of a Chapel Street dessert bar in the early hours of January 15, 2025. The fire caused extensive damage to the site and nearby businesses.

Witnesses at the time saw one of the men visibly on fire as the pair fled the scene in an orange Holden Commodore that was waiting for them nearby. The car was later found dumped on Birdwood Avenue in South Yarra.

Shortly afterwards, emergency services responded to calls to an address in Fitzroy, where a 52-year-old St Albans man had significant burns to his body.

He remained in hospital for the next five months and died of the injuries on June 6.

On Thursday, police charged the 44-year-old man with arson causing death, criminal damage, reckless conduct endangering life and with the theft of a motor vehicle.

They also released a composite image of another man thought to have been driving the Commodore.

Meanwhile, police are working to identify a silver Toyota RAV4 – with a distinctive hard shell covering the spare tyre on the back of the vehicle – seen on CCTV driving past the dessert bar several times on the night. They have released footage of the vehicle.

Investigators are urging anyone who recognises the vehicle, recognises the man, or who was in the area on the night and may have dashcam footage to contact police.

Police believe the dessert bar was unsuccessfully targeted on December 6, when a fire did not to take hold.

Contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

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