David Henwood: Wellington man caused grievous bodily harm

A man miraculously survived despite suffering third degree burns to 68 per cent of his body after he was doused in petrol and set on fire by his half-brother.

A man who poured petrol over his brother and used a cigarette lighter to set him on fire in the NSW central west sat crying saying “I didn’t mean it” afterwards.

Details about the moments leading up to the shocking incident can be revealed for the first time after Wellington man David Christopher Henwood, 49, pleaded guilty to a charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

David Henwood is facing 25 years in jail after setting his half-brother on fire in Wellington. Picture: Facebook

According to court documents, Henwood had been sleeping in his car and using his mother’s and 54-year-old half-brother’s house on Glasson Street in Wellington to wash and cook when he snapped on June 27, 2019.

After Henwood’s mother Leonie Webster received a message from Dubbo Base Hospital about a day surgery appointment, she tried to share it with Henwood.

He took offence and stormed into Mrs Webster’s kitchen and made verbally abusive remarks about her and his half-brother Colin McGuire.

“You and that fat f*** in there have been ignoring me over the past two days, I really need you when I am like this,” Henwood said.

Court documents state Mrs Webster tried to calm Henwood down, however he walked outside and approached Mr McGuire who was fixing a tap in the front yard.

Henwood made a threat to Mr McGuire, claiming he would burn the house down.

Immediately afterwards, Henwood picked up a plastic 5l container and walked to a nearby service station to purchase fuel.

He returned to the family home, kicked in a side door and approached Mr McGuire in the hallway of the home.

When Henwood was about one metre away, he threw petrol at Mr McGuire and said “told you I’d do it”.

Henwood then moved closer towards Mr McGuire and used a cigarette lighter to set fire to his petrol-soaked flannelette shirt.

Colin McGuire had to be flown to Concord Hospital for emergency treatment. Picture: Damian Shaw

Mr McGuire immediately caught fire and ran outside as he struggled to remove his shirt.

Henwood ran to a tap to put a fire out that started on his hands before he sat on the ground, burst into tears and said “I didn’t mean it”.

Mr McGuire said “f*** off mate” in response.

Mrs Webster called emergency services and Mr McGuire had to be intubated, ventilated and flown to Concord Hospital for urgent treatment.

The public housing property was destroyed and the family rendered homeless, the court heard.

Henwood left the scene and was arrested in another part of Wellington a short time later.

He was taken to Dubbo Base Hospital for treatment and assessed by a mental health team who released him into the custody of police.

David Henwood appeared in the Dubbo District Court via audiovisual link from Parklea jail. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

According to court documents, renowned plastic surgeon and burns specialist Professor Peter Maitz said Mr McGuire suffered full thickness burns to 68 per cent of his body.

“Full thickness burns are burns that destroy all layers of the skin and are life threatening when over 50 per cent,” Professor Maitz said.

“Mr McGuire will never regain full function and will never be able to undertake gainful employment following his severe burn … he will have a reduced life expectancy due to this.

“Mr McGuire will be unable to control his body temperature in severe heat and is more prone to sun damage, including the development of skin cancer.”

Dubbo District Court Judge Nanette Williams said David Henwood was facing a lengthy jail sentence. Picture: Ryan Young

Henwood has been remanded in custody since his arrest and he appeared in the District Court at Dubbo on Thursday to dispute the findings of a forensic psychiatrist’s report that had been tendered as evidence.

“The interview was not conducted over 90 minutes, it was 30 minutes, it was actually slightly less,” Henwood told Judge Nanette Williams.

“We couldn’t see each other at all for at least a third of that interview, that has to have a major impact on her ability to examine my mental state.”

Henwood said the report contained “mistakes” that would have a “negative impact” on him and he said he would represent himself.

Judge Williams told Henwood the psychiatrist would have to be cross-examined if he disputed her findings and that it was in the interest of justice for him to obtain legal representation because if he was sentenced without representation he could appeal the verdict and claim he was not properly represented.

Henwood was told to organise new representation and his case was adjourned to a date in October.