The Victorian Supreme Court has heard that Maree Vermont had rejected the romantic advances of accused murderer Timothy Loosemore before her death in a house fire at Goldie in August 2023. Prosecutors allege Loosemore killed or seriously assaulted Vermont before setting fire to her rural home, known as the “Stonehouse,” to conceal the crime. The court heard Loosemore, a British traveller, initially met Vermont after booking accommodation at her property through Airbnb earlier in 2023. Crown prosecutor Mark Gibson KC said the pair had a “brief se*ual dalliance” before Vermont rejected Loosemore’s desire for a deeper relationship. Prosecutors allege he became angry and unable to accept the rejection. An autopsy was unable to determine Vermont’s exact cause of death because of extensive fire damage. The prosecution claims Loosemore either murdered Vermont before the blaze or fatally injured her and then lit the fire. Defence lawyers deny he assaulted or killed her, arguing the incident was a tragic fire rather than murder. The trial is expected to continue for several weeks.