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Man arrested over alleged teen murder in 1998

Adelaide LangNCA NewsWire
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Camera IconNot Supplied Credit: Supplied

A man has been arrested over the alleged murder of a Sydney teenager who died in a house fire two decades ago.

Arthur Haines, 13, was sleeping over at a friend’s house on Walker Street in Waterloo on April 9, 1998 when a fire broke out.

The young boy became trapped on the top floor and suffered severe burns.

Arthur Haines died after a house fire nearly a quarter of a century ago. NSW Police
Camera IconArthur Haines died after a house fire nearly a quarter of a century ago. NSW Police Credit: Supplied

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He managed to escape the inferno and was taken to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead but he tragically died 11 weeks later.

Forensic investigations determined the house fire had been deliberately lit.

Unfortunately the case went cold despite extensive police inquiries, but it was referred to the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad for reinvestigation in January 2020.

The Squad instigated Strike Force Belemba which conducted a thorough investigation and put out numerous public appeals.

In 2020, NSW Police increased the reward for information about the alleged murder to a staggering $1m.

After 24 years of investigation, NSW detectives were granted an arrest warrant for a 55-year-old man who was believed to be residing interstate.

The NSW Government increased a reward to $1 million for information into the suspicious fire that caused the death of 13-year-old Arthur Haines. NSW Police
Camera IconThe NSW Government increased a reward to $1 million for information into the suspicious fire that caused the death of 13-year-old Arthur Haines. NSW Police Credit: Supplied

At 11am on Wednesday, the man was arrested by officers from the Queensland Police Service Homicide Investigation Unit before the warrant was executed.

Following the man’s arrest, NSW Police detectives have travelled to the sunshine state to apply to extradite the 55-year-old to NSW.

Officers will make the application before Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Originally published as Man arrested over alleged teen murder in 1998

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