THE owner of a Mount Lambie roadhouse that was destroyed by fire in 2012 is planning to rebuild after being acquitted of any criminal involvement in the blaze.
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A District Court jury has found Arie Spek not guilty of a single charge of dishonestly damaging a property by fire or explosive for gain.
A second charge of maliciously damaging property by fire or explosive was withdrawn by the Crown.
Mr Spek yesterday said the acquittal meant he could now get on with his life.
Mr Spek has been living in a caravan on a family member’s property at Wells Crossing, near Lismore, since the fire destroyed his service station and home in May 2012, but said he would soon be returning to the region and planned to rebuild on the landmark site beside the Great Western Highway.
“I love the place and loved what I was doing there,” Mr Spek said. “I want to rebuild as soon as possible.”
Mr Spek was charged with attempting to defraud an insurance company with his claim that the fire had been started by two men who had bashed and robbed him of the day’s takings.
