@adamfacaa: A mother accused of leaving her children to die in a fatal house fire allegedly admitted to her boyfriend in a recorded prison call she heard “screaming”, a court has been told. Shania Lee, 26, and Matthew McAuliffe, 24, have each been charged with two counts of negligent manslaughter and negligently cause serious injury following a horror blaze on September 8 last year. Details of the former couple’s alleged actions were aired in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday afternoon as Mr McAuliffe sought bail to live with his mother Melissa McAuliffe in the regional Victorian town of Maryborough. Ms Lee’s daughters Izabelle, 5, and Lyvia, 1, died in hospital days after they were pulled from a burning home at Fergus Ct in Sydenham, while her son, Kalais, 3, survived but suffered serious injuries. Outlining the police case, Detective Senior Constable Christopher Mitchell said it was alleged Mr McAuliffe and Ms Lee, who had been dating for two months, left the children alone at home at 9.17pm — just one minute before a smoke alarm was triggered by a fire in the master bedroom. The court was told it was not alleged Ms Lee or Mr McAuliffe ignited the fire, but that they knew there was a fire and did not take any steps to return or seek help. Constable Mitchell said Mr McAuliffe allegedly confronted Ms Lee during a recorded prison phone call in February while he was in custody on unrelated matters. He allegedly mentioned that Ms Lee accessed an internal camera in the house through her phone, where the pair heard “screaming” shortly after leaving, the officer said. Constable Mitchell said it was alleged Ms Lee admitted she did watch the camera, stating “it’s nothing, it’s nothing” and asking if he would “use it against her”. In the call, Mr Lee allegedly says the only thing she did wrong was leave the children alone. The court was told Mr McAuliffe had an extensive criminal history and had served multiple jail sentences between 2022 and 2025. Ms Lee was released on bail on September 17 to live in Moama and the pair will next face court on January 15. #FACAA #fyp #Crime #ForYou #Viral

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Thursday 16 October 2025 04:07:13 GMT