Fruit picker 'vowed to torch' backpackers hostel

A fruit picker accused of starting a hostel fire in Australia that killed 15 backpackers - including an Irish girl - discussed burning down the building in the weeks before the blaze, a court has been told.

New Zealander Aaron Ellmers testified at Brisbane Magistrates Court that he heard Robert Paul Long say in a profanity-laced tirade that he should torch the Palace Backpackers' Hostel with all its lodgers inside.

Long, 37, has been charged with arson and with the murder of Julie O'Keeffe, who was from Limerick.

Magistrate Michael Halliday is hearing evidence against Long at a two-week hearing before deciding whether the prosecution's case is strong enough to go to trial.

Long has not been required to enter a plea to the charges.

Ellmers, 29, said Long had talked about torching the hostel by setting fire to trash bins.

Ellmers said Long told him: "The place would just go up, just like that."

In testimony earlier this week, a backpacker said he saw Long standing over a burning trash can on the night of the fire.