Queensland man to face murder trial over house fire death of Damian Bradley Ramsay

A Queensland woman has told a court her brother confessed multiple times to lighting a house fire that killed a Hervey Bay man.

The woman told a two-day committal hearing in the Hervey Bay Children's Court that the man — then aged 16 — said he lit a fire that killed Damian Ramsay in 2022.

The man is charged with murder, arson and burglary over the incident, but cannot be identified because he was a minor at the time of the alleged offending.

He has been committed to stand trial in the Supreme Court in Maryborough on a date to be determined by the court.

An associate of the defendant told the court the pair smoked marijuana on the evening of February 17, 2022, before going to Mr Ramsay's property, where the defendant allegedly stole some power tools.

Later that night, emergency services were called to a fire at Mr Ramsay's home, where he was found dead.

Multiple statements

The man's sister, who also cannot be identified for legal reasons, told the committal hearing on Monday that, prior to speaking with police, her mother had coached her into giving an incomplete statement.

"She took me into the bathroom just to give me a rundown of what I should say and what I shouldn't say," she said.

In a 2023 statement mentioned in cross-examination, the defendant's sister told police her brother had threatened to kill her if she revealed anything about what she knew of the fire.

The lead investigator, Detective Senior Constable Glen Dehnert from the Maryborough Crime Investigation Bureau, told the court that in July 2024, the woman, who uses a wheelchair, called Crime Stoppers to say she wanted to provide a more complete statement because she was no longer living with her mother.

"Being in a wheelchair, often at my mother's [house], I was left to the whims of the other people's moods and emotions," the defendant's sister said.

"So now, I was in a stable environment to be able to give the truth, to give … justice to Damian Ramsay."

'Emotional' confession

She told the court her brother had confessed on at least two occasions in the year following Mr Ramsay's death to lighting the fire.

She said her brother had told her: "The fire was never part of the plan," and he had lit it accidentally when someone had arrived at the scene unexpectedly.

"[My brother] is the man with the plan. He thinks of all these details, but then, when anyone throws anything out … he will just panic," she said.

She said that, on another occasion, they were sitting at a fire pit at their home when her brother said the fire was an accident.

She told the court her brother would be intoxicated on alcohol and drugs "pretty often", but on this occasion, he had declined the offer of drinks because he seemed upset talking about the fatal fire.

"[My brother] turning down drinks is a rare occurrence … he just seemed a little off … he was very emotional," she said.

"[He said] I have to believe him … he goes, 'I'm your big brother … I wouldn't set someone on fire."

Fire threats

She also told the court he would threaten to set the family home on fire so often that the threats became tedious.

Following an argument when her brother had again threatened to set fire to the family home, she said she told him: "You always say that, dude, just leave it alone."

She said that, in response, her brother said, "You don't think I will? What do you think I did to [Mr Ramsay]?" the court heard.

Investigators questioned

The defendant was taken to Hervey Bay Police Station for questioning after the fire.

Investigators led by Senior Constable Dehnert also executed a search warrant at his house three days later, the court was told.

Under questioning by the defendant's defence barrister, Charlotte Smith, Senior Constable Dehnert agreed that the search warrant did not include the charge of murder.

He said he was unable to explain the absence of this charge from the search warrant, given that he was pursuing a homicide investigation at the time.

Senior Constable Dehnert told the court the search did not locate any of the allegedly stolen tools or any evidence linking the defendant to the fire.

He told the court the investigation had progressed slowly until further witnesses came forward, including the defendant's sister.

The defendant's mother also gave evidence, telling the court she had sold drugs but had no recollection of selling or giving drugs to her son at any time.

She blew a kiss to her son when leaving the courtroom after giving her testimony.

At the end of the hearing, Ms Smith told the court she conceded there was sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.