Police have charged a man and released an image of another more than 12 months after a Melbourne dessert bar was torched, killing a suspected arsonist.
A duo then fled in an orange Holden Commodore, despite one of them being “visibly on fire”, police allege.
Accelerant was allegedly poured inside The Golden Lounge Dessert and Juice Bar on Chapel Street, Prahran, shortly after 4.15am on January 15, 2025, according to police. (Supplied)
About 45 minutes later, emergency services were called to a Fitzroy home following reports a man had sustained significant burns.
A 52-year-old St Albans man was rushed to hospital, where he received treatment for the next five months before succumbing to his injuries.
This morning, police arrested a 44-year-old Fitzroy man at his home.
A duo then fled in a waiting orange Holden Commodore, despite one of them being “visibly on fire”. (Supplied)
He has been charged with a spate of offences, including arson causing death, arson, criminal damage by fire and car theft.
He was expected to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today.
The dessert bar sustained extensive damage during the incident, as well causing damage to surrounding businesses. Nobody else was inside the shop at the time.
The store had been targeted similarly about six weeks before the deadly blaze, but the fire failed to take hold.
With one man now charged, police are turning their attention to the alleged getaway driver of the Holden Commodore.
Police have released an image of an alleged getaway driver wanted over the deadly Chapel Street arson attack. (Victoria Police)
A composite image of the alleged driver has been released, with anyone who recognises him urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Vision of a silver Toyota Rav4 has also been released, after it was captured on CCTV driving past the dessert bar several times on the night of the alleged arson attack.
Police are yet to determine the Toyota’s registration, but said it has a “distinctive hard shell covering the spare tyre on the back of the vehicle”.
Anyone who recognises the vehicle or who was in the area on the night and may have dashcam footage is urged to contact police.
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