Brisbane - A committal hearing into murder charges stemming from an Australian hostel fire which killed 15 mainly foreign backpackers was adjourned yesterday as defence lawyers sought to have the magistrate disqualified.
Magistrate Michael Halliday opened the hearing to determine whether fruit-picker Mr Robert Long should face trial on two murder charges and one of arson by expressing his sympathy to the victims' families, a move that Mr Long's lawyer said lacked impartiality.
An Irish national, Julie O'Keefe, was among those who died in the fire in Childers, 300 km north of Brisbane, on June 23rd, 2000.