A 78-year-old pensioner yesterday pleaded not guilty to the charge of unlawfully and maliciously setting fire to a building when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson.

It was alleged that on January 5, Walter DeGolas of 2 Princes Street, Charlestown set fire to the building belonging to Quary DeGolas, his wife. The lawyer representing him made an application for bail to be granted in a reasonable amount. However, the police prosecutor argued that the incident can recur since the defendant and the virtual complainant live in the same yard and as such bail should be refused.

Bail was subsequently denied and DeGolas was remanded to prison. He is to return to court today.