Mark James Chatzigiannis, 50, jailed for destroying four cars in Westfield Marion Shopping Centre car park arson

Four cars were “senselessly” destroyed in an arson attack at a popular Westfield shopping centre with no “rhyme or reason” as to why.

A father of four high on methamphetamines randomly burned down four cars at the Marion Shopping Centre before later attempting another – and will now spend years in prison.

Mark James Chatzigiannis, 50, caught a train from Christies Downs with a petrol filled jerry can on August 7, 2023 and walked to the Westfield Marion Shopping Centre prior to stealing another jerry can from a parked ‘Jim’s Mowing’ branded truck.

The petrol was used to light a fire on a Suzuki station wagon around 11am, which spread to three nearby cars causing a collective $110,0301.28 in damage.

Ten minutes later, a member of the public noticed a burning object underneath a white Volkswagen as he was leaving his car to attend the Services SA office.

Chatzigiannis was charged with arson of a motor vehicle and attempted arson after destroying four cars and trying to burn a fifth on August 7, 2023. Picture: Generic File

The driver kicked the burning object – an uncapped and partially melted plastic jerry can – 15 metres away and ran to his car to seek water to extinguish it.

The Volkswagen was undamaged.

Police attended the scene and were unable to put out the fire, and Metropolitan Fire Service crews rendered assistance.

No injuries were reported, but two of the destroyed car’s owners told the District Court Chatzigiannis’ “senseless act” had left them “significantly” impacted financially and personally.

CCTV footage captured Chatzigiannis travelling to the centre with the jerry can of petrol, and showed him bending between the four cars before smoke could be seen.

All cars attacked by Chatzigiannis were lawfully parked and unoccupied as the owners visited the Westfield Marion Shopping Centre and nearby facilities. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Mark Brake

Following investigations, Police attended his Ascot Park property on August 25, 2023 where they conducted an interview and then arrested him.

Chatzigiannis pleaded guilty to one count of arson of a motor vehicle and one count of attempted arson of a motor vehicle.

During sentencing, Judge Nicolas Alexandrides said expert psychologists had diagnosed Chatzigiannis with PTSD and depression, which worsened after an assault where he was lit on fire in 2016.

The court heard Chatzigiannis told psychologists he used methamphetamine, alcohol and other drugs to self medicate as he was “trapped in a self destructive cycle of trauma”.

The four cars were all destroyed, with Chatzigiannis ordered to pay the victims $8420.20 in compensation for the loss. Picture: Dean Martin

“When asked by Mr Balfour why you had offended, you said … ‘I don’t know, it was just stupid … I was up too long for too many days,” Judge Alexandrides said.

“You said there was no rhyme or reason as to why you chose the victims’ SUV.”

The court heard Chatzigiannis had an extensive criminal history for a range of offences including theft, assault, weapon possession, drug and driving offences.

Judge Alexandrides sentenced Chatzigiannis to three years, nine months and 11 days imprisonment, with two years, two months and ten days non-parole.

His sentence began as he was taken into custody on November 27, 2024, and Chatzigiannis was ordered to pay $8420.20 compensation to the victims.

Originally published as Mark James Chatzigiannis, 50, jailed for destroying four cars in Westfield Marion Shopping Centre car park arson