A MAN has denied he torched a people-mover parked on a suburban street earlier this year.
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Samuel Wayne James Griffiths ran late to Tamworth Local Court this week and was almost convicted of the alleged offence in his absence.
He eventually arrived, but was excused from appearing when Legal Aid solicitor Wendy McAuliffe entered a not guilty plea for him.
She told the court the accused would fight the single arson charge of destroying property worth more than $5000 in company.
"I can enter a plea of not guilty," Ms McAuliffe said.
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Griffiths was granted strict conditional bail after his arrest late last month, including to come to court.
His bail was continued again, but not without a warning from magistrate Julie Soars.
"It's a serious matter and he was a bit late and he nearly got convicted," Ms Soars said.
Griffiths was arrested by police and charged last month after a three-month investigation and public appeal led Oxley Police District officers to raid a Robert Street unit.
Police stormed an outlaw motorcycle gang gathering in Tamworth on June 30 and claim the alleged arson is connected to the club's members.
The police case is that a Toyota Tarago van erupted in flames about 3am on March 25.
At the time it was parked outside a business on Aberdeen Street.
Police allege two men were seen running from the burning van, which is alleged to be at the centre of a drug investigation.
Officers later launched an investigation and released CCTV footage as part of a public appeal for information.
The case was adjourned.
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