Bucklands Beach fatal fire case

The story so far

A fire gutted a two-storey home on Murvale Drive in Bucklands Beach in the early hours of 2 October, killing a 36-year-old man and his 11-year-old son and injuring others.^{2, 3, 8 Oct 2025} Police determined the blaze was deliberately lit with an accelerant and are treating it as a double homicide.^{8, 22 Oct 2025; 18 Nov 2025} A 38-year-old man has been charged with two counts of murder and has pleaded not guilty.^{24 Oct 2025; 12 Nov 2025} The family of the victims has spoken publicly for the first time, saying the father died after entering the flames to try to save his son.^{17 Nov 2025}

Latest

Police have now been able to name the accused man, who has pleaded not guilty to both murders.^{18 Nov 2025}

What's next

A trial has been scheduled for February 2027.^{12 Nov 2025}

Key moments

1. 2 Oct 2025Two dead and three injured in early-morning Murvale Drive house fire.
2. 8 Oct 2025Police treat fire as double homicide after finding it was deliberately lit.
3. 22 Oct 2025Police appeal for help identifying distinctive accelerant container.
4. 24 Oct 202538-year-old man charged with two counts of murder.
5. 12 Nov 2025Accused pleads not guilty in High Court; trial set for February 2027.
6. 17 Nov 2025Family speaks publicly for first time; father died entering flames.
7. 18 Nov 2025Accused can now be named; police say accelerant was used.

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.