Accused Hanukkah car firebomber declares his innocence

A man accused of setting off an arson attack on a car carrying a Hanukkah sign outside a rabbi’s home on Christmas has declared his innocence.

John Argento, of Richmond, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with six counts of arson.

He also faces a number of other charges, including burglary, obtaining property by deception, attempted theft from a motor vehicle and burglary.

The 47-year-old man is accused of setting fire to a car carrying the Hanukiah symbol, a nine-branched candelabra associated with Hanukkah celebrations, outside the home of a local rabbi in St Kilda East, south-east of Melbourne, in the early hours of Christmas Day.

There was no one in the vehicle at that time, but the house had to be evacuated as a precaution.

Police alleged that Argento may also have been involved in an incident in which a car was burglarized on a nearby street about 20 minutes after the alleged arson.

Argento was not represented by a lawyer and appeared in court from the Moorabbin police cells where he was held in custody.

“I am innocent of this arson,” he said via video link during his court appearance.

Judge Olivia Trumble told him it wasn’t the best idea to talk to everyone in contact and in court.

The court was told Argento had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The court heard he was also at risk of self-harm and was on a methadone programme.

Argento appeared in court again on Thursday.

The car arson occurred two weeks after 15 people were killed when two ISIS-inspired gunmen opened fire on Hanukkah celebrations at Bondi Beach on December 14.

Jewish groups at the time said the Christmas morning attack was designed to scare Jews because they were visibly Jewish.

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