Update: Portland man to be held in Bathurst to face murder charge

Paul John Fitzpatrick, 70, of Green Street, Portland did not appear before Magistrate Michael Allen in Lithgow on Thursday, December 14 and did not apply for bail. 

His bail was once again formally refused. 

Mr Fitzpatrick has been charged with the murder of Portland man John Burrows, 58, who died when an improvised explosive device detonated in a backpack on July 24, 2015. 

He will appear in Bathurst on February 19, 2018. 

Paul John Fitzpatrick, 70, of Portland has been charged with the murder of John Burrows. 

Mr Fitzpatrick appeared in Lithgow Local Court on Wednesday, December 13, where he was formally charged with murder. He declined legal representation for his initial hearing and did not seek bail. 

Bail was formally refused by registrar Gayle Chambers. He will reappear on Thursday, December 14 via video link in front of a magistrate and will have the option of applying for bail.

Mr Fitzpatrick has been charged in relation to the death of John Burrows, 58 and a father of three, who died when an improvised explosive device detonated as he opened the door of the garage at his mother’s home in the early hours of July 24, 2015.

Mr Burrows had walked from his home in Wolgan Street to Villiers Lane, Portland, to collect his car for the start of his shift at Mt Piper power station. It was a usual part of his morning routine. 

The huge explosion rocked Portland, sending debris over a wide area and shattering nearby windows. 

Acting superintendent of the Chifley Local Area Command detective inspector Luke Rankin said detectives had been investigating the death of Mr Burrows for two-and-a-half years. 

“I was there the day it happened,” he said.

“We are really pleased that we have got to this point that we have been able to take action against this man. We are even more pleased because we can tell the family of the victim.”