Woman allegedly set alight by neighbour cops criticism from alleged attacker’s lawyer

A woman who barely survived allegedly being set alight by her neighbour in Werribee South has been disparaged in court by her alleged attacker’s lawyer.

Police investigate at the scene where a woman was allegedly lit on fire outside a property in Werribee South in 2022. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicki Connolly

A woman who barely survived being set alight allegedly with a blowtorch by her neighbour has been disparaged in court by her alleged attacker’s lawyer.

Michael Gauci, 44, is accused of torching his neighbour, then aged 32, following a spat she had with his wife over a noisy house party which interrupted their teenage childrens’ sleep in Werribee South on December 28, 2022.

The court heard Gauci’s wife stuck her head over the fence and asked the partygoers to turn the music down.

It’s alleged the victim, identified as Sharie, instead turned the volume up, with Gauci’s wife later yelling from a bedroom window: “Are you trying to be a smart b**ch?”

Hours later, after the group returned from a late night swim, it’s alleged Gauci stuck his head over and asked: “Which one of you was being smart to my wife?”

Police at the scene of the near fatal fire in Werribee South on December 28, 2022. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicki Connolly

The court heard a fight then broke out between Gauci’s wife and Sharie in the driveway before Gauci allegedly threw one litre of fluid on Sharie and set her alight.

“I just saw him ignite something and she was just in flames,” Sharie’s brother-in-law, Eta Pirangi, told the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

In a previous unsuccessful bail attempt by Gauci, it was alleged he threw PrepWash, a petroleum distillate, on Sharie and she suffered total thickness burns to 70 per cent of her body including her face, chest, upper limbs.

Gauci’s lawyer John Korn on Tuesday put to the court that Sharie was an aggressor in the lead up to her near death.

“Sharie was a plain, arrogant, challenging person who didn’t give a fat rat about the people next door wanting to have a bit of peace and quiet so the kids could go to sleep,” Mr Korn said in cross-examination of witness Chiara Fankhauser.

“No, I wouldn’t described Sharie in that manner,” Ms Fankhauser replied.

Police at the scene in Werribee South, after a woman was allegedly set on fire. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicki Connolly

Scott Morgan, who also attended the party, broke down in tears on numerous occasions as he recounted his memory of the night.

Mr Morgan told the court he “trauma blocked” the moment Gauci allegedly set fire to Sharie.

“I remember hearing the liquid hit her and that’s as much as I can remember,” he said.

Gauci is charged with attempted murder, intentionally and recklessly causing serious injury and conduct endangering life.

His lawyer previously indicated the case might be fought on self-defence grounds.

The committal hearing will resume on Wednesday.