A Lockhart man who poured paint thinners on a 14-year-old boy before setting him on fire has been sentenced to eight years and nine months behind bars.
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Brody Mulqueeney, who was 19 at the time of the offence, was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
According to documents tendered to the court, a group of friends was sitting around a homemade fire bucket at Mulqueeney’s Lockhart home on August 28, 2016, when he poured paint thinners over the victim.
He then chased the victim around the backyard before lighting a cigarette lighter near his back while holding him in a headlock.
The victim suffered burns to 35 per cent of his body surface and had to undergo six different surgical procedures under general anesthesia following the incident.
In sentencing, Judge Gordon Lerve said Mulqueeney attempted to convince two girls to tell a “false version” of events in an effort to avoid liability for his “serious and criminal actions”.
Mulqueeney was on ice at the time of the offence, but has since completed a positive lifestyle course to learn how to better deal with stress.
Judge Gordon Lerve said he was satisfied that the offender was truly remorseful for his actions.
“The offender says he regrets everything he did to the victim and he thought about the pressure under which he put the two girls,” Judge Lerve said.
“If the offender remains abstinent from illicit substances and continues the course of counselling, then there is no reason to assume that he will not rehabilitate.”
Mulqueeney will serve a minimum non-parole period of five years and nine months; taking into account that he has been held on remand since November 14, 2016, he will not be eligible for parole until August 14, 2022.
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