Trent Skillington jailed after setting man on fire over puppy dispute in Bundaberg

A petty dispute over a puppy ended in an extreme act of violence when a Qld man doused his former friend in petrol and set him alight in a shocking street showdown.

Trent William Skillington

A falling out over a puppy exploded into extreme violence on a Bundaberg street, where a man doused a former friend in petrol and set him on fire, leaving him screaming in agony as flames covered his upper body.

This is what Bundaberg District Court heard on Friday as Trent William Skillington pleaded guilty to one count of committing a malicious act with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

The court heard the pair had previously been friends but had fallen out over what the judge described as a “trivial matter” over a puppy.
On the day of the attack in September 2021. Mr Skillington had filled a jerry can with petrol at a BP service station to refuel a motorbike.
While walking back, he encountered the victim, who had spotted him, performed a U-turn and pursued him down Maryborough Street.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Allen said Skillington changed his route in an attempt to avoid a confrontation.
But the victim exited his vehicle, shirtless and empty-handed, and walked towards Skillington, who was still carrying the jerry can.

As the two approached each other, Skillington twice splashed petrol onto the victim before using a lighter to set him on fire.

The man was “engulfed in flames” and left screaming for help, rolling on the road in an attempt to extinguish the fire.
A resident used a fire extinguisher to assist, and bystanders hosed him down until paramedics arrived.

The victim sustained burns to 23 per cent of his body, requiring multiple surgeries, skin grafts, and several weeks of hospitalisation.

Trent William Skillington

The judge said the man “must have suffered excruciating pain” and would likely bear permanent cosmetic injuries.

Skillington’s barrister submitted that the act was not premeditated, and his client had used what was in his possession during an unexpected confrontation.
Letters from Skillington’s mother, stepfather and sister-in-law asked the court for leniency, and his barrister argued that while imprisonment was inevitable, the offence should not be declared a “serious violent offence”.

He said Skillington had no expectation of a confrontation and had attempted to avoid the victim.
He also said there had been prior animosity and Skillington feared violence, but accepted his later account to police was inconsistent with other evidence.

The court also heard Skillington had been on bail for three and a half years, was subject to weekly reporting and wearing an ankle monitor and had not committed any further violent offences in that time.

He had a history of drug use though the court was told it was not a factor in the offending.
He also had several instances of previous offending, the most recent being a break in late last year.
He suffered from depression and a social disorder and had been unable to work since unsuccessful surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome, the court was told.

Crown prosecutor Ryan Minuti submitted a sentence in the range of nine to nine-and-a-half years would be appropriate, with parole eligibility after three and a half years.
He said while there was no premeditation, the act was serious, and the sentence needed to reflect that.

Judge Allen ultimately found that although the offence was not planned and arose from a confrontation, the gravity of the consequences meant a significant prison term was warranted.

Skillington was sentenced to eight years in prison with parole eligibility set at December 5, 2027.
The court was told that upon his release, Skillington would move to Sarina to live with family.