Hussein Kisi jailed for ice fuelled attack on a 19-year-old he mistakenly thought was his rival

A teen says he thought he was going to die when an ice addict doused him in petrol and set his car on fire in Epping, in Melbourne’s north.

Hussein Kisi was sentenced to 3 ½ years jail over the arson attack. Picture: 7 News

A teenager who was doused in petrol and set alight by a paranoid meth addict says he thought he would die during the terrifying road rage incident.

The victim told the Saturday Herald Sun he was lucky to be alive after dirt bike rider Hussein Kisi, 36, set his car on fire during an ice-fuelled attack after mistaking the then 19-year-old for a rival.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the victim said he was still traumatised by the incident nearly two years later.

“It’s hard to put into words,” he said. “I thought I was going to die.”

The man, who was left with permanent scarring, spoke out for the first time after his attacker was jailed for a maximum of 3 ½ years at the County Court on Friday.

Kisi set the victim’s car on fire during the road rage incident. Picture: 7 News

He suffered horrific burns to his head, neck, legs and hands and spent nine days in hospital.

But he said his quick actions to rip off his clothing saved him from worse injuries.

“It was a very scary moment but luckily I took my jumper off in time,” he said.

The horror unfolded on December 8, 2020 when Kisi was riding his dirt bike with mates in Epping when he swerved onto the wrong side of Narina Way and into the path of his teenage victim who beeped him.

Believing the young driver was an associate of a former friend who had been “tormenting” him, Kisi, who was high on methamphetamine, followed the teenager to his brother’s home.

As the victim parked on the street and rolled down his window, Kisi poured petrol onto the teen and the roof of the car and yelled: “I’m gonna torch this car.”

He then lit a rag on fire and threw it at the car, engulfing the victim and his vehicle in flames.

The teen desperately removed his clothing as he escaped the burning car.

The victim’s older brother ran out of his home and tackled Kisi to the ground.

“He’s only a kid! We don’t know you guys, what the hell are you doing?,” he yelled.

Realising he had mistaken the teenager for someone else, Kisi apologised and fled the scene.

“I’m sorry, I’ll pay for it, whatever it is,” he yelled as he left.

The teen’s car was destroyed in the inferno.

Police arrested Kisi during a raid on his Epping home the following morning where he was found hiding behind a door.

Officers also seized small amounts of ice, cannabis and an AK-47 gel blaster imitation firearm.

In handing down his sentence, Judge Michael Cahill accepted Kisi’s drug addiction and worry of threats, either real or perceived, contributed to his offending.

“You attacked a young man, not known to you, in a public street,” he said.

“You sought to intimidate him, believing he was some threat to you. That you mistook him for someone else is no excuse.”

The judge accepted Kisi, who told police it was a “stupid f--king” incident, was remorseful for his actions and that his rehabilitation prospects were reasonable.

Kisi pleaded guilty to charges including causing injury intentionally and arson.

He will spend at least two years and three months behind bars before he is eligible for parole.