Lazar Stamenkovic denied bail after allegedly pouring petrol on cars, setting one alight at Davoren Park soccer match

A man has faced court after allegedly dousing a car in petrol and setting it on fire outside a community soccer match in Adelaide’s northern suburbs.

A Davoren Park man has been remanded in custody after allegedly lighting a car on fire, before pouring petrol on another vehicle with four people inside opposite a community soccer match.

Lazar Stamenkovic, 25, appeared at the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Monday, charged with arson and two counts of assault, following a citizen’s arrest.

Mr Stamenkovic is accused of carrying out the random attack near a soccer game at Kalara Reserve, in Davoren Park, on Sunday afternoon.

Mr Stamenkovic allegedly poured petrol on to a silver Holden Commodore and set it alight, before the owner and witnesses gave chase.

A second vehicle, a blue Ford Falcon with four people inside, allegedly had petrol poured over it but was not set on fire.

Members of the public chased Mr Stamenkovic to Melbury St, who were able to hold him until police arrived.

Mr Stamenkovic did not apply for bail.

The burnt-out Commodore in Davoren Park, which was allegedly set alight. Picture: ABC News

#BREAKING: A man has just faced court accused of setting fire to a car at Davoren Park and then pouring petrol on another, with four people inside at the time. #9Newspic.twitter.com/OrZT17UTce

— 9News Adelaide (@9NewsAdel) September 13, 2021

Magistrate Yoong Fee Chin said Mr Stamenkovic had “ongoing matters”, for which he had previously been granted bail and were listed for court later this month.

He will face court for the alleged arson in October.

Witness John Wakefield was at the oval and said he saw a man walking along with a petrol can before the car went up in flames.

“I thought, why is he heading in that direction? The petrol station’s the other way if he’s going to get petrol.” Mr Wakefield said.
“I’ve seen him walking around the area before, he wasn’t involved with the soccer game at all.
“After the car caught alight suddenly everyone was running away from the oval, it was very dramatic.

“Something like 20 people from the oval streamed down there chasing him.”

The soccer game at Kalara reserve was a friendly trial match between local African communities representing South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“The guy who did it must have been looking for the nicest car he could find because it was a pretty late-model Commodore with twin exhausts, it was a higher-range vehicle ”