Chilling texts of dad accused of setting fire to his home with his two children inside are revealed as he tries to get bail
- A father-of-five allegedly tried to burn his house down with two children inside
- He was refused bail in a West Australian court on Monday after being charged
- On day of alleged incident he allegedly sent text threatening to 'burn the house'
The chilling texts a father before he allegedly set fire to his house with two children inside have been revealed.
Father-of-five Anthony Paul Tottman, 40, has been remanded in custody at Casuarina Prison in Western Australia since the alleged incident.
A bail application, in process for the past month, was refused in Joondalup Magistrate's Court on Monday.
At a previous hearing the court was shown footage from body cameras worn by police who attended a rental property in the north Perth suburb of Butler on April 7.
Anthony Paul Tottman, 40, has been remanded in custody at Casuarina Prison in Western Australia since the alleged incident
The body cameras showed officer speaking to a child at the front door before walking to the garage where Mr Tottman was.
Flames could be seen bursting from the bottom of the garage door and near a door leading to the kitchen - sending police into action as smoke and fire alarms were set off, according to The West Australian.
The court heard the accused had been drinking 'large amount' of alcohol and had rowed with his partner of 17 years.
She had taken three of the children in her car and driven a kilometre up the road to call police while the other two children remained at the house, the prosecutor told the court.
'While they waited for police, there were texts and calls where he said 'I'm going to burn the house down',' the prosecutor said.
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The defence disputed these messages.
Police allege he had poured petrol in the garage and set it alight then fled the garage into the backyard.
'He exited the engulfed garage through a rear access door to the rear yard where he then tried to stab himself with a large kitchen knife,' the prosecutor said.
He was tasered by officers and then arrested.
Mr Tottman was charged with two counts of endangering the life, health or safety of a person, one count criminal damage by fire and one count of common assault in circumstances of aggravation.
Magistrate Sandra De Maio said there were no conditions she could impose on bail that would prevent her fears for the safety of the partner and children.
Mr Tottman was refused bail to next appear in court on August 17.
Magistrate Sandra De Maio said there were no conditions she could impose on bail that would prevent her fears for the safety of the partner and children
