Charge downgrade for accused Perth dad

A Perth father accused of setting his three children on fire will have one charge against him downgraded.

Edward John Herbert, 43, allegedly poured a liquid and set fire to his son and two daughters inside the family's Doubleview home, north of Perth, on Saturday.

Herbert is charged with five offences including two counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.

The Perth Magistrates Court heard on Tuesday that an application would be made at Herbert's next appearance to have one of those GBH charges discontinued and replaced with being armed in a way to cause fear.

The youngest of Herbert's three children, a girl who turned four on Monday, remains in a critical but stable condition at Princess Margaret Hospital.

Her seven-year-old sister and six-year-old brother were discharged from hospital earlier in the week.

Herbert, who did not appear because he is in custody in hospital, is scheduled to appear in the same court later this month.