Lisa Hay, 33, has now been committed to stand trial over the alleged offence.

She pleaded guilty to lighting four small fires between May and July last year, but denied responsibility for a larger fire at the home of an 81-year-old woman in the same street on September 1.

Detective Acting Sergeant Justin Schulz told Wangaratta Magistrates Court on Thursday police set up cameras in the street after the initial smaller fires.

They did not capture any movement at the front when the September 1 fire was lit at the back of the victim’s house.

Hay and the victim’s properties are separated by a 1.62-metre fence where police found three of Hay’s fingerprints.

Barrister Martin Kozlowski asked Detective Schulz if the fingerprints could have been from an incident four years ago when Hay admitted touching the fence as she looked over.

“I’d be very surprised to find a fingerprint more than four years old,” Detective Schulz said.

Crown prosecutor Deanna Caruso said it should be up to a jury to decide if the fingerprints and a noise heard by the victim came from Hay.

“What is clear is that there’s a noise at the back fence and then the fire is lit at the back of the house,” she said.

Mr Kozlowski argued the police did not have enough evidence. “They cannot prove that the sound was made by Lisa Hay, they cannot prove it was made by another human,” he said.

Magistrate Ian Watkins found there was enough evidence to send Hay to stand trial in the County Court and adjourned the case for a directions hearing in September.