Kristi Leigh Hassum jailed after setting Landsborough house on fire
A young woman’s arson attack during a drug-induced psychosis caused almost half a million dollars in damages to the property, but she'll walk free soon from jail.
A Caboolture woman will be released from custody before Christmas after she deliberately set a house on fire and caused almost half-a-million dollars in damages.
Kristi Leigh Hassum was suffering from a drug psychosis when she set several fires at a Landsborough home last year with an unknown ignitable liquid.
A passing ambulance happened to drive by the burning home by chance that evening, Maroochydore District Court was told on Monday, where Hassum was spotted by paramedics.
Legal officer Liam Dennis said the 23-year-old did not live at the home but stayed there often with friends.
Mr Dennis said the tenants were told to move out, with Hassum assisting them in the lead up to the inferno.
He said about 9.30pm on October 27, 2024, Hassum was at the property by herself when she set multiple fires around the property. She also set her Holden vehicle ablaze.
Fire investigations revealed the main inferno began in the laundry which then spread throughout the home.
Mr Dennis said two paramedics in an ambulance passed by the property 15 minutes later who saw Hassum frantically moving between separate fires.
They called out to her and asked if people were inside, to which she replied no.
The paramedics asked what was happening, but all they could hear from Hassum was the words “I’m killing”.
She then walked from the fires to a bus station before the 23-year-old entered the railway line overpass and went out of sight while paramedics called emergency services.
Fireys fought the blaze until it was extinguished about midnight.
Footage captured by the paramedics identified Hassum as the main person of interest. She was spoken to the same morning however she was not arrested until December 4, two months after the blaze.
The Caboolture woman was remanded in custody for 320 days until her sentencing hearing on Monday where she pleaded guilty to one count of arson.
Mr Dennis said the homeowner’s insurer valued the damage of the house at almost $500,000.
Defence barrister Lily Brisick tendered medical reports to the court which spoke of Hassum suffering from poor mental health and a drug induced psychosis at the time, which they claimed reduced her moral culpability.
Ms Brisick said the Caboolture woman was so “delusional” during her drug-induced episode she set fire to her own car, and said there was no revenge or financial motivation for her crime.
She said her client came from a prejudicial background which was marred by homelessness and drugs.
The court was told Hassum had “taken advantage” of her time behind bars by completing drug rehabilitation courses and advancing her qualifications.
Judge Glen Cash accepted the Caboolture woman’s drug induced psychosis at the time was a mitigating circumstance which reduced her moral culpability to a degree, but said it was not the most important factor.
He opted to jail her for three years and set her parole release date to December 4, a year after her arrest. He declared Hassum’s 320 days in custody as time served.
