Man jailed over petrol fire attack outside Toowoomba's Stock Hotel
In the District Court in Toowoomba on Wednesday, Yves William David Greenhill, 28, pleaded guilty to acts intending to cause grievous bodily harm.
The court heard Greenhill got into the back seat of Jordan Moore's car with a female co-accused on September 13, 2023 with the intent to rob him.
Crown Prosecutor Hamish Macintyre told the court Greenhill splashed petrol over the then-26-year-old, who was set ablaze soon after by one of the pair.
"In being a party to lighting the victim on fire by virtue of squirting the petrol, it is so close to the act that in my submission there is no real distinction between striking the match and doing that," Mr Macintyre said.
The court heard Mr Moore managed to jump out of the car while still on fire, ripping off his shirt, while his attackers fled in another car driven by a third person.
"[Mr Moore] suffered burns to 10 per cent of his body, including face, neck, chest, and back of his hands," Mr Macintyre said.
"Even with the treatment he received … he is still expected to have significant visible burns and disfigurement into the future."
Greenhill's defence barrister Scott Lynch told the court his client had an unfortunate upbringing.
He said challenges earlier in life continued to have a profound impact.
"He suffered a brain and spinal injury after falling from a balcony in 2019," Mr Lynch said.
"[Sentencing would come] with a greater deal of burden upon him by reason of his state of health."
In sentencing Greenhill, Judge Dennis Lynch said while his co-accused planned the attack, Greenhill had agreed to participate in the attempted robbery.
"It was fortunate that [Mr Moore] was not more significantly injured, or worse," he said
Judge Lynch sentenced Greenhill to nine years' jail, with parole after four-and-a-half years.
"Because of your prior [criminal] history, it's necessary to fix that point of your release … I've also designed [it] as a measure to provide some community protection from your continued offending."
Greenhill has already served 629 days in custody and will be eligible for parole on March 20, 2028.
His co-offenders, Courtney Lee Ramsey and Codie Leigh Bird, were sentenced in June last year.
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