A Rockhampton man facing multiple serious criminal charges, including arson, has had his case postponed after delays in preparing the prosecution's evidence.
Jaydin Cossie Alberts, 28, appeared in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court, where the matter was expected to progress following an earlier order for police to provide a full brief of evidence. However, prosecutors told the court that the material had not yet been completed because the arresting officer had been on extended leave. As a result, the court granted an adjournment.
Alberts faces a number of serious allegations arising from an incident on 20 March 2026 at The Range, a suburb of Rockhampton. Prosecutors allege he deliberately set fire to a house after a lengthy confrontation with police, leading to a significant emergency response involving firefighters, specialist police and paramedics.
According to police allegations presented in court, emergency services were first called to the property at about 5:30 pm. Officers initially attended the scene but later withdrew before returning several hours later when the house became fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters responded with multiple fire crews to extinguish the blaze and prevent it from spreading to neighbouring properties.
In addition to the arson allegation, Alberts has been charged with wilful damage, drug possession, and five counts of serious assault on police while armed or pretending to be armed. These allegations remain before the court and have not yet been tested during a trial. Alberts has not been found guilty of the offences, and the case is continuing through the Queensland court system.
During the latest court appearance, defence lawyer Pierre Lammersdorf noted that it was the first mention of the case since police had been ordered to prepare the evidence brief. Police prosecutor Claudia Neill-Ballantine explained that the delay resulted from the investigating officer's extended absence, meaning the required documentation could not be completed within the original timeframe.
The magistrate accepted the explanation and adjourned the proceedings to allow police additional time to finalise the material. The case is now scheduled to return to the Rockhampton Magistrates Court on 5 August 2026.
Court briefs of evidence are an important stage in Queensland criminal proceedings. They provide defence lawyers with witness statements, forensic reports and other prosecution material, enabling both sides to assess the strength of the case before decisions are made about pleas or whether matters proceed to trial.
The alleged incident attracted considerable attention in Rockhampton because it involved a prolonged police response followed by a house fire. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported during the incident, although the property sustained extensive damage.
The court made no findings regarding Alberts' guilt during the latest appearance. The adjournment relates solely to procedural delays in preparing evidence, and the allegations will continue to be dealt with through the Queensland judicial process when the matter returns to court next month.
