PROSECUTORS have laid six new charges against a Tamworth man accused of killing a woman and a child in a housefire, and attempting to kill two others.
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Richard George Sands did not appear in Tamworth Local Court on Wednesday morning but now stands accused of six allegations in the wake of a deadly housefire in Hillvue in 2019.
The Leader can reveal four charges against the accused were withdrawn in court on Wednesday, after the Crown certified and confirmed its case against Sands.
"I'm in a position to present a charge certificate to the court," DPP solicitor Max Dickson said.
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He said four new charges "are certified for the supreme court", and two further allegations "are certified for the supreme court in the alternative".
According to documents filed in court, Sands is accused of murdering one woman, and a young child, on October 17, 2019.
He also faces allegations that he set fire to the Bylong Road home in an attempt to murder one woman and a young boy, with intent to kill both of them.
None of the deceased or survivors of the fire can be identified for legal reasons, and some details in the case cannot be reported because of a non-publication order.
In addition, Sands is accused of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to the surviving woman; and did intentionally or recklessly destroy property, namely the Bylong Road property, with intent to endanger the life of the surviving young boy.
Public defender Stuart Bouveng is representing Sands and said his client was not required on video link from custody.
Magistrate Julie Soars was told a case conference date had not yet been determined. The parties are required to meet to discuss issues in the case before any committal to the NSW Supreme Court. Sands is yet to enter any pleas.
Mr Bouveng said there was no application for bail, and the case was adjourned to February, after the case conference.
"I'll adjourn Mr Sand's matter with bail not applied for," Ms Soars told the court.
Detectives allege Sands deliberately set fire to the home just before dawn, killing a woman, whose body was found in the front bedroom, and a young boy, whose remains were found at the back of the house.
The second woman and child survived the fire and were rushed to hospital for burns. The woman was later airlifted to a specialist unit in Sydney, having suffered burns to almost 80 per cent of her body.
The boy was released from hospital in the days after the fire.
Sands was arrested shortly after the fire and taken to Tamworth hospital for treatment for his burns. He was refused bail in an out-of-sessions bail hearing at Tamworth hospital a day after the fire. He's been in custody since.