A stock photo of police tape in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: Getty
Melbourne, Australia – A fiery noise battle escalated to a terrifying degree when a man is accused of using a blowtorch to burn his neighbor. He’s on trial for trying to kill him.
Michael Gauci, 45, stood before the Supreme Court of Victoria on February 25 for the commencement of his trial. Prosecutors allege that in the early morning hours of December 28, 2022, he poured an accelerant over his neighbor, Sharie Gray, and set her alight.
The conflict began on December 27, when Gray, 34, was hosting friends at her unit in Werribee South, near Melbourne. The group was drinking, singing, and playing loud music. According to court reports, Gauci’s wife asked them to lower the volume and later called her husband, who was not home at the time.
Read Also: Newlywed Crime Spree California Couple Arrested After Vegas Wedding
Gauci purportedly came back at about 12:40 a.m. and, after a fight between his wife and Gray, was seen on CCTV taking a blowtorch from his kitchen. The security cameras went off a minute later.
The Alleged Attack
Prosecutors state that Gauci confronted Gray and instructed her to “come out the front to sort it out.” He supposedly threw around a liter of a “pre-wash accelerant” on her face and torso before lighting the blowtorch.
“Her entire head and upper torso were on fire,” said prosecutor Angela Moran to the jury. Her body suffered life-threatening burns to 70% of her body. Gray continues to receive treatment and has recently been released back to the hospital for additional care.
Two of Gray’s friends were also burned in their attempt to assist her, which resulted in additional charges placed upon Gauci.
Defense Says It Was an Accident
Gauci’s attorney, John Korn, asserts that his client never possessed a blowtorch. Rather, he asserts Gauci was in the process of grasping a rifle and hurled a bucket of liquid at Gray to prevent her from attacking his wife. Gauci did not know the substance was flammable, Korn asserts.
Gauci has entered a not guilty plea to attempted murder and three other counts, including causing grievous injury. The jury now has to determine whether he is guilty of attempted murder or a lesser charge of intentionally causing serious harm. The trial continues.
