Source : Perth Now news
The family of slain teenager Angus Beaumont has suffered another devastating blow after their Queensland home was destroyed in an alleged arson attack.
Emergency services were called to the blaze at Ben Beaumont and Michelle Liddle’s home at Clontarf, north of Brisbane, at about 2pm on Saturday.
The flames spread to two adjoining homes before being contained by firefighters, with crews remaining at the scene until early Sunday morning, a Queensland Fire Department spokesperson said.
A 36-year-old man, who police allege used an accelerant to set the house ablaze before fleeing the scene, was arrested a short time later and has since been charged with arson.
It is yet another devastating loss for the couple, whose 15-year-old son Angus was fatally stabbed in 2020.
Mr Beaumont’s sister Mandy Beaumont said it seemed the home had gone up “pretty fast” and that the family were lucky to have survived.
“I am in tears over here, shaking, and just am lost to how to fix this,” she said in an online fundraiser started to help the family rebuild.
“I suppose I never can, and this loss is another immeasurable loss to our family.
“I know Angus’ ashes were kept in an urn in the lounge with a big beautiful framed picture of him, and I don’t know if they had time to save him.”
Ms Beaumont said it looked as if the family had “lost everything”.
“He’s a gardener and all his trucks have gone as well,” she said.
Ms Beaumont told the Courier-Mail the family had “been there forever”.
“That’s where Angus and his other brother grew up, and I know it’s just stuff, but it’s also just devastating after the loss of Angus,” she said.
Investigations into the blaze are ongoing.
The man charged over the fire is due to appear in Redcliffe Magistrates Court on Monday.
