Jordan Burojevic pleads guilty to arson, conduct endangering persons

A man who took the law into his own hands and blew up his neighbour’s home out of “retribution” should not face jail, a court has heard.

Emergency services at a fire in Bellbird Ave in Norlane. Picture: Alison Wynd

A Norlane man blew up his neighbours’ home as “retribution” because he thought the occupants had robbed him, a court has heard.

Jordan Burojevic, 32, fronted the County Court at Geelong on Tuesday for a plea hearing, having earlier pleaded guilty to single counts of arson and conduct endangering persons over a blaze at Bellbird Ave in Norlane in August 2021.

Crown prosecutor Philip Teo told the court that the blaze came days after Burojevic’s home was burgled on August 14, 2021, with thieves making off with car parts and tools worth about $4000.

Burojevic reported the incident to police but set about making inquiries of his own, the court heard.

Jordan Burojevic

He confronted a man over the burglary on August 15, an incident that resulted in him being separately placed on a community corrections order (CCO) in the Geelong Magistrates Court in April.

Burojevic began to suspect his neighbours were involved, and on August 17, he jumped the fence and used petrol to set the property alight.

The court heard an explosion tore through the property, before the fire spread an attached unit.

CCTV played in court showed the moment of the explosion, and Mr Teo told the court footage also captured Burojevic clambering back over the fence shortly after.

Witnesses raced to the unit to see if they could rescue anyone trapped inside, but were prevented by the flames, smoke and extreme heat.

Nobody was injured in the blaze but both units were damaged, with the cost estimated to be $192,200.

Burojevic was interviewed twice over the fire, denied he was responsible and initially attempted to conceal his involvement, the court heard.

Mr Teo said when interviewed, Burojevic identified the house as a “drug house” and a “s--thole”, and said he had been having ongoing problems with the occupants.

Following his second interview, Burojevic was placed in a holding cell with undercover operatives, where he made some admissions.

The matter was headed for trial before Burojevic, who was supported in court by his partner and two friends, accepted a prosecution offer and pleaded guilty in February.

Burojevic’s lawyer, barrister Jonathan Barrera, submitted that Burojevic should avoid jail over the fire, given the effort he had made to rehabilitate himself in the three years since the offending.

“He has done everything he can to set his life back on the right path,” Mr Barrera said.

Burojevic, who now lives in Macarthur, has done well on bail and the CCO, even in the wake of a family tragedy which could have derailed his rehabilitation, the court heard.

“Rather than bury his head in the sand, or relapse, he’s been proactive,” Mr Barrera said.

“He’s committed to his rehabilitation, and that’s been apparent … for the past three years since the offending.”

The court heard Burojevic had a “significantly disadvantaged” upbringing, began using cannabis at eight, left home at 12 and experienced bouts of homelessness.

Mr Teo submitted a jail term with a non-parole period was warranted, arguing the blaze showed “some elements” of planning, and the fact there was an explosion aggravated it.

Burojevic will reappear in court next month.

Originally published as Jordan Burojevic pleads guilty to arson, conduct endangering persons