David Bradshaw sentenced in Rockhampton court for Mark Petersen murder

A Rockhampton man found guilty of murder has learned his fate after walking across town to burn down a house with a father inside to deliver his revenge.

A Rockhampton man will spend life behind bars after he was found guilty of murdering a man by exacting “personal vengeance” and burning his house down while his victim was inside.

David Alan Bradshaw, 42, was sentenced in the Rockhampton Supreme Court on April 20 after a jury found him guilty of one count of murder on Thursday morning.

The jury delivered their guilty verdict after only about two and a half hours of deliberation following a four-day trial.

The court heard Bradshaw caused the death of Mark Petersen, then 47, on August 15, 2019 when he lit a fire under his house.

Mark Petersen.

Bradshaw had walked from his home on George Street, Rockhampton, to Mr Petersen’s home at 4 Hill Street, Lakes Creek, carrying a bottle of accelerant.

The accelerant was made of petrol and kerosene. Mr Bradshaw put some of it on a rag he found on a chair under Mr Petersen’s house, lit it with his lighter, and then turned around and walked away.

During Bradshaw’s sentencing, Chief Justice Helen Bowskill commented it was a “furious fire” engulfing the home, killing Mr Petersen who was inside at the time.

The court heard there was a triple-0 call made about 2.30am alerting authorities to the fiery murder scene.

Chief Justice Bowskill said Bradshaw, who had a diagnosis of severe paranoid schizophrenia, went to the Brisbane police station a month later on September 14, 2019 and told them everything that had happened on that night.

The house fire at 4 Hill Street, Lakes Creek, on August 15, 2019.

“Although you told police that you had no idea whether he was there or anyone else was there, you did know the lights were on and the TV were on, therefore, it was very likely someone was there,” she said.

Crown prosecutor Joshua Phillips said Bradshaw had been held on remand for 1313 days following his arrest on September 14, 2019.

Defence barrister Andrew Hoare said he had been instructed by his client not to make submissions.

Chief Justice Bowskill said “nobody deserves to die in those circumstances”.

Crown prosecutor Joshua Phillips (left) and defence barrister Andrew Hoare (right) leaving Rockhampton Courthouse. Pictures: Aden Stokes

“The court does not know very much about Mr Petersen, but we know he had parents who loved him and have been here in court showing their support,” she said.

“His ex-partner has been here and his two sons have been here.

“It is a most heinous offence, the worst offence known to our law.

“You have been convicted of that offence, not on the basis that you intentionally killed Mr Petersen, but rather on the basis that you caused his death via an act, that is lighting the fire, which was likely to endanger human life and which you did in carrying out an unlawful purpose, which you identified as taking out or exacting personal vengeance against him by burning down his house.

Mark Petersen's parents (left) and ex-partner Kylie Rhule (right) leaving Rockhampton Courthouse on Thursday. Pictures: Aden Stokes

“The reasons why you did that, as you explained, was some perceived conduct directed towards you in the previous couple of weeks.

“It makes no sense why anyone would do that.”

Chief Justice Bowskill sentenced Bradshaw to life imprisonment and declared 1313 days of pre-sentence custody as time served.

Bradshaw, upon hearing the sentence, kept his face still and remained expressionless.

Mr Petersen’s parents, as well as his former partner, declined to speak to the media.