Loner 'tried to kill own daughter'

Robert Long was a disturbed firebug who had started a life-threatening blaze once before, it has been revealed.

Jurors who wrestled for two days to decide whether they believed Long set the Palace Backpackers Hostel ablaze were prevented from hearing evidence that he was a suicidal, self-mutilating loner who had been accused of attempting to murder his partner Christine Campbell and her children.

Five years ago, she complained to police that he had set fire to a caravan while she and their daughter Kirra, then five, and her two other children slept inside. Long stood back and silently watched the blaze, claimed Ms Campbell.

All those in the caravan managed to escape. Police in Darwin said there was insufficient evidence to charge Long, but he agreed to undergo psychiatric treatment. He was later jailed for trying to strangle Ms Campbell - when she was pregnant with Kirra, now nine - and her daughter by another man. However, Ms Campbell, 45, was not called to give evidence at Long's trial for the Childers arson.

Several survivors gave evidence to the court that Long hated backpackers and had threatened to kill a young Indian tourist with whom he shared a room. In one drunken rage, Long told a local man he was going to pay somebody to bash and break the limbs of backpackers.

Legal argument prior to the trial prevented the jury from hearing about Long's previous activities as a firebug with mental problems. The judge, Mr Justice Peter Dutney, issued a suppression order to prevent mention or publication about the incidents.

Before the trial Ms Campbell spoke about her violent, life-threatening relationship with Long, which lasted nearly four years. "He was a loner who wanted people to feel sorry for him," she said. "He should be put away.

"If he was capable of trying to burn us alive, taking all night to decide whether he was going to kill his child, he is capable of anything."

His repeated violence towards her prompted her to leave him several times but he tracked her down and attacked her, she said. He once broke into a house where she was staying and knocked her unconscious, claimed Ms Campbell. He then grabbed her eldest daughter, who was six at the time, and ran off with her. "Police caught him some time later in a churchyard," said Ms Campbell. He was on top of her, trying to strangle her.

"She was hospitalised with a fractured nose and bruising to her body. He went to court, pleaded it out and went to jail."

Ms Campbell then moved to Darwin, and the caravan which was eventually torched by Long. "Robert was picked up and put into a psychiatric unit but got bail," said Ms Campbell "Then he got charged with breaking and entering and was never formally charged with trying to murder me and the kids.

"I don't believe Robert would feel any remorse for any of his crimes."