Shania Lee, 27, faces charges including two counts of negligent manslaughter and one count of negligently causing serious injury following a house fire in Sydenham, Melbourne, in September 2024. The fire resulted in the deaths of her two daughters, aged one and five, while her three-year-old son sustained injuries.
Background
Prosecutors allege Lee left three children, all under five, home alone shortly before the fire, and home security video reportedly captured the children's screams. Lee was initially granted bail in September 2023, despite prosecution concerns regarding her history of bail contraventions and avoiding police.
Her initial bail conditions mandated residence with her mother in Moama, NSW, reporting to police three times weekly, and notifying authorities of any address changes.
Recent Developments
Lee failed to appear at a Melbourne Magistrates Court hearing on January 15, leading to the issuance of an arrest warrant. She subsequently surrendered to police and applied for bail again.
Detective Senior Constable Chris Mitchell opposed Lee's renewed bail application. He stated that Lee had not adhered to her previous bail conditions, alleging she had not resided at her Moama address but had been "couch-surfing" in Melbourne's west. Mitchell also reported that Lee stopped reporting to Echuca police after December 24.
The detective further alleged that he had "criminal intelligence" suggesting Lee's involvement in "high-risk offending," including police pursuits, firearm possession, and drug dealing and consumption. He noted that Lee was observed in a vehicle with stolen number plates approximately 18 hours before it was used to evade police, though she will not be charged in connection with that specific incident.
Defense Argument
Lee's lawyer, Nick Jane, argued that his client experienced an "incredibly difficult emotional time" in December, coinciding with the birthday of her youngest child who died in the fire. He stated that her non-compliance with bail conditions began "almost immediately after" this period. Jane proposed a new bail address in Altona, suggesting that Moama had been isolating for Lee.
Related Case
Lee's ex-partner, Matthew McAuliffe, who was also charged with negligent manslaughter in connection with the fire, died while on bail in October, and the case against him was subsequently discontinued.
The bail hearing is currently ongoing.