A woman who argued with her neighbors over the volume of their music was doused in petrol and set on fire with a makeshift flamethrower, a court heard.
Michael Gauci, 44, from Werribee South, west of Melbourne, is accused of setting fire to his 32-year-old neighbour, identified as Sharie Gray, after becoming embroiled in a neighborhood dispute just days before Christmas 2022.
On Wednesday, Melbourne Magistrates Court heard grueling testimony from Sharie’s family, who claimed Gauci doused his alleged victim with fuel before setting him on fire.
Sharie, originally from New Zealand, suffered horrific burns to 70 per cent of her body in the alleged attack, but somehow managed to survive her ordeal.
His brother-in-law Eta Pirangi initially told police he thought Gauci had used some type of weapon to start the fire.
Eta Pirangi, brother-in-law of burn victim Sharie Gray, hugs a loved one outside the home where Michael Gauci is charged with attempted murder in December 2022.
A court sketch by Michael Gauci on Wednesday. He remains behind bars for attempted murder
Under tense cross-examination by Gauci’s Sydney-based lawyer John Korn, Mr Pirangi was forced to repeatedly relive the events of that horrific night.
The court heard conflicting reports about what led up to the fire incident, including claims that Gauci’s wife had been fighting with Sharie when her husband intervened.
“The fights I saw, with punches and hair pulling, didn’t last long,” Pirangi told police that night.
Pirangi claimed he had tried to separate the women before Gauci fled and returned with some kind of canister containing about a liter of fuel.
“He threw the liquid in a rapid motion, aiming upwards, causing it to primarily impact Sharie’s upper body and face,” he told the court.
‘After the liquid reached Sharie, I saw a light turn on, the husband was less than a meter away from her… he pressed something on his right hand which made the flame move forward.
“At first I thought it might be hairspray and a lighter, but the stream seemed too big.”
Gauci’s father, Maurice Gauci, was chased out of court by Channel Nine at a previous hearing.
Police markers mark evidence for detectives at the crime scene where Sharie was set on fire.
Pirangi said he heard a “massive bang” when the fuel ignited.
“All we heard was a loud bang and my sister was burned alive,” he told police.
“He was holding something that honestly looked like a gun.”
The court heard Gauci’s wife had previously asked her neighbors to turn down the music because she had young children sleeping.
Tensions rose hours later when the rowdy house party continued with even louder music.
The court heard Gauci’s fed-up wife, estimated to be half Sharie’s size, confronted her neighbor in the driveway shortly after 1am.
Steve Pirangi, who lived near Sharie with his brother Eta, had arrived home late the night the tragedy occurred.
He enjoyed smoking a cigarette before going to bed, but was awakened by the sounds of a commotion outside.
Police gather evidence at Werribee South crime scene just before Christmas 2022
Possible evidence at Werribee South crime scene
Pirangi refuted claims that Sharie had been involved in a physical altercation with Gauci’s wife when he allegedly attacked her.
He further stated that Sharie had his back turned to Gauci when he allegedly set him on fire.
Pirangi later told police he believed Gauci had used a “blowtorch” to illuminate his victim.
“It looked like he was holding a lit blowtorch in his right hand and a spray can in his left,” he said.
‘I could hear the blowtorch burning and the flame was blue and extended about 30cm. I knew it was a blowtorch because I had used one before to light my barbecue.’
Gauci, charged with attempted murder, intentionally and recklessly causing serious injury and life-threatening conduct, is expected to plead not guilty to the charges when his preliminary hearing concludes this week.
It is understood he plans to contest the charges on the grounds of self-defence.
He appeared in court on Wednesday from his cell via video link.
Dressed in a green prison uniform, Gauci smiled and waved to his mother, who was present inside the courtroom.
Gauci’s lawyer indicated that he will attempt to release his client on bail so that he can await his Supreme Court trial in the community.