Nicholas Wilson: ‘Extraordinary’ lighter blamed for shock fire attack over minor debt

A man accused of breaking into an associate’s home, dousing him in methylated spirits and setting him on fire has argued he didn’t know the “extraordinary capabilities” the lighter had.

Nicholas Wilson is accused of breaking into an associate’s home, dousing him in metho and setting him on fire.

A man accused of breaking into an associate’s home, dousing him in methylated spirits and setting him on fire will argue at trial that he never intended to ignite the fuel, a court has heard.

Defence barrister Tony Kimmins said his client Nicholas James Wilson was unaware the lighter he used to ignite the complainant had “extraordinary capabilities” to produce large flames.

The crown alleges Wilson had threatened to burn the complainant over an unpaid “minor debt” before he broke into the man’s Woolloongabba unit in April 2022 and doused him in accelerant.

During a Supreme Court bail application on Thursday, Mr Kimmins said his client had indicated he would plead guilty to charges of grievous bodily harm and extortion.

However he said he would defend a charge of acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm, denying he intended to follow through and ignite the accelerant poured on the man.

Mr Kimmins said Wilson was standing a distance away from the complainant when he ignited a lighter belonging to the man that he did not know was capable of producing flames in excess of one foot.

Crown Prosecutor Sam Knight opposed Wilson being released on bail, submitting there was an unacceptable risk he would reoffend if released.

Mr Knight said evidence at the committal hearing alleged Wilson had moved forward to close the gap between himself and the complainant in the case after dousing him in accelerant.

He argued that Wilson, who has been in custody almost two years, was not at risk of serving too much time in custody and that the indictment was due to be presented next week.

Acting Justice Ann Lyons said there was no evidence Wilson was aware the lighter was capable of producing such large flames.

“It would seem the applicant did advise the complainant to go to the shower once the complainant was in fact on fire,” she said.

She said Wilson had a “poor history of compliance” with court orders and the alleged offending was “serious”, resulting in significant injuries to the complainant.

Wilson’s application for bail was dismissed and he was remanded in custody to face court again next week for the presentation of an indictment.