STONNINGTON: Prahran arson attack
Detectives from the Arson and Explosives Squad have charged a man following an arson attack on a Chapel St business in 2025 which left a man dead.
A 44-year-old Fitzroy man was arrested at his home address on Thursday morning (Mar. 5).
He has since been charged with arson causing death, arson – criminal damage by fire, possess anything with intent to destroy or damage property, reckless conduct endangering life and theft of motor vehicle.
The man was to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.
The activity follows an incident where emergency services were called to a fire at a Chapel St store shortly after 4.15am on January 15, 2025.
Witnesses told police two men had poured accelerant inside the premises before setting it alight.
The store sustained extensive damage during the incident, as well causing damage to surrounding businesses. Nobody else was inside the premises at the time.
The duo then fled the address in a waiting orange Holden Commodore, with one of the group visibly on fire.
The Commodore was later located dumped on Birdwood Avenue in South Yarra.
Emergency services were subsequently called to an address in Fitzroy just before 5am to reports of a man with significant burns to his body.
A 52-year-old St Albans man was conveyed to hospital where he received medical treatment for the next five months.
The man passed away in hospital on Friday, June 6, as a result of the injuries sustained during the arson attack.
Police released vision of a silver Toyota Rav4 which is captured on CCTV driving past the offence location a number of times on the night.
Enquiries are still underway to determine the registration of the vehicle, though it has a distinctive hard shell covering the spare tyre on the back of the vehicle.
The store had been previously targeted on December 6, though the fire failed to take hold.
Investigators are urging anyone who recognises the vehicle or who was in the area on the night and who may have dash cam footage to contact police.