A man has been killed and his partner seriously injured in an alleged petrol-fuelled house fire in Redhill, South Australia.
Don Couzens, 65, had travelled from Mildura to spend the weekend with Jenni Henderson when police allege her former partner arrived at the property on Hope Street at about 7pm on Saturday and set it alight.
The house was quickly engulfed by flames. Ms Henderson escaped and ran across the road to a neighbour for help, while Mr Couzens remained trapped inside.
Neighbour Rachel Manning said Ms Henderson had suffered severe burns. “They were both covered in petrol. She was burnt from the waist down terribly,” she said.
“So I’ve put her in the water and just done what we could.”
Another neighbour, James Winstone, said he ran towards the burning property after hearing cries for help and pulled a man from the front door.
“I came running down to do what I can and there was someone in the front door, so I dragged him out,” he said. “I just had to save someone.”
The man rescued by Mr Winstone was the 63-year-old whom police allege had started the blaze. Mr Couzens’ body was found after firefighters extinguished the fire.
The alleged offender and Ms Henderson were taken by air to the Royal Adelaide Hospital with serious burns. Ms Henderson was in a stable condition, while the man was being treated for life-threatening injuries.
Ms Manning said Mr Couzens and Ms Henderson had only recently begun their relationship. “He was really in love with her,” she said. “They were just smitten with each other. It’s only been a new recent thing.”
Major Crime and forensic officers joined local detectives at the charred property on Sunday as the investigation continued.
Police expect the 63-year-old Wirrabara man to be charged with murder, attempted murder and arson once he is medically fit.
Investigators have appealed for anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage to come forward.
