Text messages and DNA led to arrest of accused murderer, ACT police say

Court documents have revealed how text messages, DNA and an undercover police operation led to the arrest of a man accused of killing a woman and setting fire to her flat in Canberra's north.

Warning: This story contains graphic details.

Jack Henry Curtin, 27, was arrested and charged with murder and arson earlier this week over the death of 46-year-old Kylee McHugh.

Ms McHugh's body was found in her burning ground floor unit in Belconnen on May 18.  

The police statement of facts says investigators found a string of text messages between Ms McHugh and a phone number allegedly used by Mr Curtin in the days before her death.

"You smoked my weed replace it," one message read.

"Go buy some weed to replace mine or prepare yourself when you come back don't come back not expecting nothing to happen."

Ms McHugh replied "I have not stolen anything from you" and "I don't need to", according to the statement of facts.

People who knew Ms McHugh told officers a couple had been staying at her unit in May, but the pair accused her of stealing their cannabis, and so she had kicked them out.

A woman with Ms McHugh's mobile number later called Triple-Zero seeking help to evict the couple from her apartment.

"If I don't have assistance getting them out, there's going to be a blood bath," the caller said.

Ms McHugh also called ACT Housing about evicting the couple, who told her she would need to call police.

"Once I do that, my life becomes a threat, my life becomes a threat,"

Ms McHugh said.

CCTV allegedly shows accused near murder scene

Telecommunication service data showed a phone with the number allegedly used by Mr Curtin in the Belconnen area on the night before and morning of the fire, before being turned off.

The phone was later found by members of the public before being seized by police.

CCTV footage also allegedly showed Mr Curtin in the Belconnen area near Ms McHugh's unit complex on May 17.

Mr Curtin was also allegedly seen near the unit complex at around 3:30am on the morning of the fire, and again an hour later.

Officers spoke to Mr Curtin in the days after the blaze, when he told them he'd recently lost his phone and bought a new one.

"I know more events about Kylee … That chick just died and burn up to a crisp,"

he allegedly said.

The court documents say DNA obtained from Mr Curtin couldn't be excluded from samples taken from Ms McHugh's remains.

The forensic pathologist said believed she died before the fire took hold, finding blunt force injuries to her neck and head with "compression of the larynx likely being the major contributor to death".

Firefighters found five seats of fire, including some with "ignitable liquid pour patterns" around the unit.

In July, police launched an undercover sting during which Mr Curtin allegedly made admissions about the murder and arson.

When he was arrested on Monday, the documents say he made no admissions about his alleged crimes.

On being in the area at the time, he told police he had observed a "glow" at Ms McHugh's flat and returned later to see the unit on fire.

Mr Curtin has not entered any pleas and was remanded in custody.