A court lifted the ban on identifying the only arson suspect so far in Australia's recent deadly wildfires, and authorities urged people not to target him in their rage over the disaster's more than 180 deaths.
The case of Brendan Sokaluk, a 39-year-old man accused of lighting one of hundreds of fires that swept southern Victoria state on February 7th, went before a court packed with media and onlookers, but he chose to stay in police protective custody rather than attend.
Sokaluk was arrested Friday and charged with one count of arson causing death and one of lighting a wildfire in connection to a blaze known as the Churchill fire.
He faces a maximum sentence of 25 years on the first charge, and 15 years on the second.
He was also charged with possessing child pornography, which carries a 5-year maximum sentence.
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