Joshua John Vella jailed over stabbing attack, $45k Logan unit fire

An arsonist who burnt down three Logan units, causing $45,000 worth of damage and leaving neighbours homeless, as well as stabbing a man in the back in a frenzied attack, has been jailed by a court.

Joshua Vella jailed for Kingston 2020 arson

A young man responsible for $45,000 worth of damage to three Logan units due to a deliberately lit fire and stabbing a man in the back five times, has been jailed by a court.

Joshua John Vella, 23, pleaded guilty in Beenleigh District Court on February 13, 2023 to arson, assault occasioning bodily harm and wounding.

The court heard the Kingston resident was at his unit complex on Mayes Ave on November 1, 2020 at 5pm when neighbours saw him smashing things and laughing in an ‘odd’ manner.

Neighbours then saw smoke coming out of the windows and saw Vella holding a jerry can and a box of matches.

Neighbours also reported to police they heard a man and woman screaming inside Vella’s unit and heard him say “nobody likes me”, as a fire began to erupt.

The court heard firefighters arrived and attempted to extinguish the fire but the unit was fully destroyed and the neighbouring two units were also destroyed.

$45,000 worth of damage was done to the three properties and they have not been rebuilt, causing temporary homelessness for the residents

On November 2, 2019 Vella and another man attacked a male victim and threw him to the ground, the court heard.

Vella then stepped on his back, head and ribs and stabbed him five times with his right sharp thumb nail.

Photographs were tendered to the court which showed five severe scratches on the victim’s back and Vella was sentenced for wounding.

The court also heard that on December 12, 2021 Vella went to a man’s house in Logan and became enraged at him over allegations of child abuse.

“You’re a predator you have been trying to get naked pictures from kids for years,” said Vella to the man.

He then slapped the victim in the face and held a knife to him, punched him numerous times and stopped him from leaving.

The victim was taken to hospital with serious injuries including lacerations and jaw pains.

Judge Craig Chowdhury said Vella was fortunate there were not more serious consequences as a result of his arson.

“People have been killed in situations like this and you’re lucky nobody was,” he said.

“This is a series of harmful offending to property and violence to people.”

Vella was sentenced to four years in prison with immediate parole eligibility, he already served 427 days of pre-sentence custody.

Originally published as Joshua John Vella jailed over stabbing attack, $45k Logan unit fire