Principal on trial for school blazes

A WA school principal is on trial for burning down School of the Air buildings in an alleged bid to "cover his tracks" after he repeatedly stole from the Education Department.

John Michael McHale is fighting three arson charges and three allegations he stole as a servant while employed as a school principal with the Meekatharra School of the Air.

A prosecutor today told the District Court that Mr McHale’s motive when he set the school buildings alight in 2006 and 2008 had been to cover up 266 fraud and theft-related offences that he had since pleaded guilty to.

The prosecutor said the fires, at Meekatharra and Geraldton, had destroyed the buildings and damaged financial records.

"The motive for the fires was to cover up his stealing ... those financial records were destroyed by the accused to cover his tracks and make detection more difficult," the prosecutor said.

The jury was told Mr McHale was fighting allegations he stole $240 cash, an iPod, laptops, kitchen appliances, a camera and two oil heaters from the department but had previously admitted more than 200 dishonesty offences including stealing, false travel claims and false sick leave - which the State alleged had fuelled his alleged desire to raze the school buildings and their contents.

Mr McHale’s defence lawyer, Laurie Levy, told the jury the State could not even prove that two of the fires were deliberately lit and that evidence would show his client was not responsible.

While there was no excuse for his confessed crimes and abusing his role as a school principal, it did not mean Mr McHale was guilty of the current allegations, Mr Levy said.

"This is a case about motive, theory and speculation and not a lot of evidence," Mr Levy said.

The jury was told it was not usual for information of prior charges and offences such as the 266 offences to be aired at trial, however it was considered relevant in this case.
The trial continues.