A MAN has been charged with torching the home he owns with his wife after handing himself in to police.
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Michael Schindler allegedly torched his Victoria Street home in Wahgunyah about 1.15pm on Thursday.
Police had swarmed on the area after the incident in a bid to find him.
The 57-year-old handed himself in to police on Friday morning and he was charged with arson.
The cost of the damage is listed as approximately $200,000.
The Wahgunyah man faced the Wodonga Magistrates Court on Friday afternoon for a brief hearing.
Schindler, flanked in the dock by two custody officers, appeared calm and relaxed during the proceedings.
The court heard he would need to undergo an adult mental health assessment before the next appearance.
Magistrate Ian Watkins asked if he had any mental issues.
“He has been diagnosed with depression,” lawyer Mario Vaccaro said.
“He’s on medication for depression.
“He’s also been diagnosed with diabetes, he’s on medication for that too.”
Mr Vaccaro said Schindler also had an injury to his wrist as a result of self-harm.
The court heard he would be remanded until Tuesday, with no application for bail.
It’s believed the couple has lived at the property for several years and have adult children.
The matter will proceed as a filing hearing on Tuesday, which will set a timetable for future proceedings.
Firefighters had spent several hours battling the fire.
The blaze was made worse by high ceilings of the older-style property, which firefighters had struggled to access.
There had been fears the building, which was destroyed, would collapse.
