Neighbours stunned as man accused
By Rachel Browne
November 20, 2011
FROM carer to alleged killer - that was the portrait painted of Roger Kingsley Dean yesterday.
The 35-year-old registered nurse stands accused of murdering the people he was trusted to protect, the frail and vulnerable residents of the Quakers Hill Nursing Home.
Mr Dean had been working at the facility for only two months, having left his job at another nursing home nearby after a dispute with the management.
Treatment … Roger Dean is given oxygen by ambulance staff after Friday's fatal blaze at the Quakers Hill Nursing Home. Photo: AFP
Residents were shocked to learn their neighbour was the man allegedly responsible for lighting the worst nursing home fire in Sydney for 30 years.
''I heard it was someone from the local area, that it was a nurse and then they said he was 35 years old and I thought, 'Oh no. I hope it's not my neighbour,''' said Peter Arnold, 43, who lives next door to Mr Dean. ''A lot of the information added up.'' Mr Arnold said Mr Dean had recently left another nursing home, after problems with his manager.
''Two months ago I know that he resigned from a job as a nurse in a different location,'' he said. ''He said he had issues with his boss. He said he had to get another job pretty quickly because he had to feed himself.''
Mr Dean quickly found a job at the Quakers Hill Nursing Home, which almost backs on to his street.
On the day of the fire, Mr Dean was photographed with an oxygen mask and told reporters how he had helped people to escape from the blaze.
Mr Arnold said he had been friendly with Mr Dean in the four years they had been neighbours in the townhouse complex.
''I knew Roger quite well,'' he said. ''It's a surprise that someone so close could do this.''
Police spent part of yesterday morning interviewing residents of the complex, though they did not talk to Mr Dean's housemate. When approached by The Sun-Herald, the man said, ''I have no information for you, I'm sorry,'' and closed the door.
Another neighbour, Abhi Agarwal, expressed shock to hear that his neighbour had been charged with such a terrible crime.
He described Mr Dean as quiet and friendly, saying they always exchanged pleasantries before heading to work and when they got home.
SOURCE: The SMH, AUSTRALIA
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