Wheatsheaf former soldier Stuart Lee faces Supreme Court for killing dad of three by setting him on fire

A former Army Reserve soldier who erupted in rage after an altercation over work being done on a rural property doused a man in petrol and set him alight in front of his son.

Wheatsheaf former soldier and SES volunteer Stuart Lee killed cabinet maker Colin Bainbridge by setting him on fire. Picture: 7NEWS

A former Army Reserve soldier and SES volunteer threw petrol on a man and set him alight in front of the victim’s son after erupting in rage over work being done on a rural property.

Stuart Lee, 65, faced the Supreme Court at Ballarat on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to murder of 66-year-old cabinet maker Colin Bainbridge at Wheatsheaf in 2023.

The court heard Mr Bainbridge and his son were doing land clearing work on the Wallaby Rd property next to Lee’s on March 13 and 14.

A neighbour encountered Lee outside the property on the first day and described him as having “hit the wall with rage” over the work Mr Bainbridge was doing.

Lee rambled for about 10 minutes about trees being knocked down the land not being cared for.

He then appeared to be “keeping an eye” on Mr Bainbridge and his son from his own property.

Emergency services attended the scene after Lee set Mr Bainbridge on fire. Picture: 7NEWS

On the second day, Mr Bainbridge and Lee had a verbal argument, after which Lee called Daylesford’s police station five times.

The calls went unanswered, but on the sixth call he was diverted to Bacchus Marsh’s station, telling the answering officer that if “you’re not coming, I’m going to go and murder my neighbours”.

Minutes later, he retrieved a bucket from his garden shed, put petrol in it, and got a gas lighter from his home.

Lee climbed over the fence and, after Mr Bainbridge told him to “f--- off”, threw the petrol on him and set him on fire.

Mr Bainbridge’s son saw his father “go up in flames” and ran over to render first aid, hosing him down.

He called emergency services, who flew Mr Bainbridge to The Alfred hospital.

Mr Bainbridge was flown to hospital from Glenlyon Recreation Reserve. Picture: 7NEWS

Lee also called the police, and said he had “had trouble” with his neighbours.

“I lit him in flames,” he said, and claimed to be defending himself.

Police later arrested him as he answered his door to officers with a coffee in hand.

In an interview, he alleged Mr Bainbridge had threatened him with his chainsaw, and that he “decided he would stand up to himself”.

The court heard Lee had a “lengthy and reasonable complex mental health history”, including a personality disorder.

Mr Bainbridge was assessed at hospital and was determined to have suffered burns to 80 per cent of his body.

The injuries were deemed “unsurvivable ” and he was moved to a palliative care unit before his death.

At court on Wednesday, family members described Mr Bainbridge as “a good man” and a loving and intelligent father with a “great sense of humour”.

Judge Andrew Tinney expressed his sympathy to the family and friends of Mr Bainbridge.

The case will continue on Thursday.