Australia, fire case: hostel managers can't be charged over arson

Six Britons, four Australians, two Dutch, one Irish, one Japanese and one South Korean died when a fire tore through the overcrowded Palace Backpackers Hostel in Childers, Queensland state, on June 23, 2000.

Photo: Australia, fire case: hostel managers can't be charged over arson

Itinerant fruit picker Robert Paul Long was found guilty of starting the blaze. He was sentenced to life in prison in March 2002 and must serve a minimum of 20 years.

State Coroner Michael Barnes began an inquiry this week into whether anyone else should be charged including the hostel co-managers John Thomas Dobe and Christian Verdon Atkinson. He will publish his findings Friday.

But lawyer Alan MacSporran, who was appointed to assist the coroner and questioned witnesses on his behalf, concluded in his final address Wednesday that there was insufficient evidence to charge anyone else, the AP reports.