Qld: Long committed to stand trial

AAP General News (Australia)
01-15-2001
Qld: Long committed to stand trial

By Janelle Miles

BRISBANE, Jan 15 AAP - Itinerant fruit picker Robert Paul Long was today committed
to stand trial over last year's fatal Childers backpacker hostel fire.

Long, 37, is charged with arson and with the murders of 27-year-old West Australian
twins, Kelly and Stacey Slarke, on June 23 last year.

Fifteen backpackers, many overseas tourists, died in the blaze at the Palace hostel,
300km north of Brisbane.

Long pleaded not (not) guilty to the charges last Friday.

His defence counsel Craig Chowdhury consented to Long being …