A 24-year-old woman who poured petrol on a friend and set him alight after he made a misogynistic comment has appeared in court, where it was revealed she was suffering from depression and substance abuse.
Corbie Jean Walpole pleaded guilty to one charge of burning or maiming by using corrosive fluid. The incident occurred in Howlong, New South Wales, on January 7 last year, leaving the victim, Jake Loader, with life-threatening burns.
The court heard that Walpole and Loader had been partying with friends and returned to her backyard about 5am to continue drinking. Walpole told the court she felt overwhelmed by Loader's antagonistic behaviour, including trying to wrestle her and wake her sleeping boyfriend.
Her anger flared when Loader told her she should stay in the kitchen making scones where she belonged, not go drinking with boys. She then fetched a five-litre container of petrol from her garage, poured it on Loader, and set him alight after he dared her to do it.
Walpole's legal representative said she had been antagonised throughout the night, which pushed her over the edge, exacerbated by drug and alcohol abuse. However, the Crown prosecutor argued she had time to calm down and that her actions were far beyond reasonable proportion.
Walpole expressed deep remorse in court, saying she could not imagine the pain she caused. Loader sustained burns to 55 per cent of his body, spent 74 days in a burns unit, and underwent 10 operations. He now cannot expose his skin to the sun and struggles with temperature regulation. Walpole is due to return to court for sentencing later this month.
