Arsonist hoped wife might feel sorry

Press, 16 September 1987, Page 4

Arsonist hoped wife might feel sorry

PA Dunedin A man who set fire to his house in Ash Street,' Invercargill, in the hope his de facto wife might feel sorry for him and resume the relationship, has been sentenced to eight months periodic detention on a charge of arson.

Alan Barry Wilson, aged 23, unemployed, was also sentenced to two years supervision and ordered to pay $lO4O reparation at the rate of $lO a week. He appeared before Mr Justice Hardie Boys in the High Court at Dunedin after earlier pleading guilty to a charge of wilfully setting fire to the house.

His counsel, Mr Stephen O’Driscoll, said the offence was committed on the spur of the moment

Wilson had remained living in the house since

his de facto wife and their baby left him in June this year. Mr O’Driscoll said Wilson had been “devastated” by the break-up of the relationship. He had committed a criminal act, but was not criminal. He accepted Wilson had to be punished for what he had done.

As well as being punished, Wilson needed help and guidance. Long term periodic detention combined with supervision would achieve both objects, Mr O’Driscoll submitted.

For the Crown, Mr Robin Bates said any house fire was inherently dangerous. It was accepted the case was not one where there was a serious danger to anyone although a fireman had suffered an injury to a leg when he went into the

Mr Bates said the Crown sought reparation but agreed the total amount would be excessive in the circumstances. Damage to the house was assessed at $15,000. The Housing Corporation intended selling it by auction.

Mr Justice Hardie Boys told Wilson his actions in lighting the fire had been quite “irrational and nonsensical” as he could not possibly have received any Insurance money because of the amount he owed on the property. Clearly, the offence had been a reaction to the departure of his de facto wife and their child, a situation Wilson was unable to cope with. But the motivation really lay in Wilson’s own insecurity and self pity. “You can’t go on through life feeling sorry for yourself," his Honour said.