Cobram man John Torney fined for illegal fire while facing manslaughter charges

A man who has been charged with manslaughter of a Cobram woman has been convicted and fined after he lit a fire at the “height of summer” last year.

John Torney was fined for lighting a fire during the fire danger period in 2024. Picture: 7News

A man facing manslaughter charges has been convicted and fined for a fire he lit in his Cobram backyard.

John Torney appeared in the Shepparton Magistrate’s Court on February 3 from custody via video link where he pleaded guilty to lighting the fire during the fire danger period.

Magistrate Victoria Campbell fined Torney $2000.

Police said Torney lit the fire in his backyard on January 26, 2024 at 12.05am.

Police also attended the scene after the firefighters had left the fire extinguished and found it had been used to burn cardboard and plastic.

John Torney appeared in the Shepparton Magistrate’s Court via link from custody for a charge relating to lighting a fire during the fire danger period.

The court heard the incident happened during the fire danger period when fires are banned from being lit in open air without a permit or complying with certain requirements.

Ms Campbell said it seemed to her Torney believed he could do whatever he wanted when he wanted.

She said lighting the fire was the height of stupidity.

“The simple fact is you’re putting your whole community at risk by lighting a fire in a bushland area in the height of summer,” she said.

Nelson Brown, appearing on behalf of Torney, said the 40-year-old had been in custody in relation to another matter since April last year.

Torney has been charged with negligent manslaughter of Cobram woman Emma Bates.

Emma Bates, 49, died in Cobram in April last year. Picture: Supplied.

Torney is accused of attacking Ms Bates multiple times on April 20 last year, while his younger brother tried to protect her.

Police also alleged he assaulted her further between April 20 and April 23, when during a welfare check Cobram police discovered Ms Bates body with multiple injuries to her face including a large lump and large gash near her eye and a cut lip.

Her official cause of death following the assault was listed as “diabetic ketoacidosis in a diabetic woman with a head injury” her family told the Herald Sun in December.

Mr Torney will appear in court on March 19 for a committal mention.