4:30p.m. 1st October 2007

| By Rae Wilson

Angus and Pat Sinclair in happier times. Mr Sinclair has been charged after an alleged hostage ordeal at the The Old Nunnery at Pomona.

A Pomona grandmother is still shaken after she was allegedly held hostage at gunpoint in her historic home on Friday night but she will rest safer in the knowledge her alleged perpetrator is behind bars.

Angus Sinclair, 67, was refused bail when he faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court today charged with arson, break and enter, depravation of liberty, assault and threatening violence.

His estranged wife Patricia Sinclair, 71, allegedly managed to flee her captor only to watch the $650,000 former nunnery decked out with antiques burn to the ground from across town.

During the court hearing, Mrs Sinclair’s family and media representatives saw Mr Sinclair allegedly pull his finger across his throat and then smile.

Police prosecutor Rick Pallister tendered a police objection to bail and argued Mr Sinclair had shown an escalating propensity towards violence.

He said Mrs Sinclair had agreed to meet with her husband to discuss the end of their marriage in June but feared for her life when they reached the caravan park where he was staying.

Senior Constable Pallister said Mr Sinclair allegedly wrapped an electrical cord around Mrs Sinclair’s neck from behind and then allegedly pointed a sawn-off firearm at her after she got away.

He said Mr Sinclair was allegedly shouting about the marriage ending and, when his wife screamed for help, he told her “shut up, don’t scream or I’ll shoot you”.

Sen Const Pallister said a park resident came to Mrs Sinclair’s aid and they both heard the hammer fall when he allegedly pulled the trigger.

He said they ran away when they saw him pick up what they believed was a bullet and then allegedly saw him driving around the park “in an effort to locate them”.

The court heard Mr Sinclair told police he had a child’s rubber band gun but denied pointing the gun at his wife.

Sen Const Pallister said the latest offences showed “these matters are escalating”.

“A house was destroyed as a result,” he said.

“There is grave fears if he was released, bearing in mind the apparent escalation of violence, there will be dire circumstances.”

But the court heard the case was based on “he says, she says” evidence when defence barrister David James argued for his client’s freedom.

The Old Nunnery engulfed in flames early Saturday morning. Photo: Assunta Easton

He said the estranged couple were involved in a property settlement dispute and that Mrs Sinclair had threatened to burn the house down “so she didn’t have to pay the money”.

“They are simply mere allegations at this time,” he said.

“They are untested allegations.”

Mr James said the allegations his client held his wife for four hours was not possible because Mr Sinclair had a chronic heart disease, diabetes, severe emphysema and needed oxygen 18 hours a day.

He said no weapons were located for either allegation and noted Mrs Sinclair withdrew the June complaint of strangling a few days later.

Mr James said witnesses claimed to see a car similar to Mr Sinclair’s at the time of the fire but there were several Holden Astra soft-tops in the Pomona area.

“The only escalation is the escalation of allegations,” he said.

Magistrate Barry Barrett refused bail and adjourned the case until November 21.

“You present a risk of reoffending, endangering the welfare of the complainant and interfering with witnesses,” he said.

Outside court, Mrs Sinclair’s family said they were pleased because they feared for her safety.

Mrs Sinclair’s grandson Alex Dostal said his grandmother, who is staying with friends in Pomona, was physically okay but “still really shaken”.

“She definitely won’t get over this, her whole life was in that house,” he said.

“We did pull out a pot .. but until we pull the roof off we don’t know (what we will salvage).”