A woman from Australia is accused of setting her friend on fire after he made a sexist comment during a night of intense partying, a court was told earlier this month.
Corbie Jean Walpole, aged 24, admitted guilt in Albury District Court for the arson attack on 23-year-old Jake Loader. She explained that she felt “overwhelmed” by his provocative conduct throughout the night and was ultimately triggered by his misogynistic comment at a house party in New South Wales last year, as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Loader allegedly told Walpole that “she should stay in the kitchen making scones” if she couldn’t keep up with drinking like the men, which ignited a furious response from the 24-year-old, the court was informed, according to the source.
She grabbed a gallon of gasoline from the garage and doused Loader with the flammable substance — waving a lighter at him threateningly, the publication reported.
“Go on, do it,” Loader yelled at his friend, who was drunk and had consumed cocaine, she confessed.
Walpole then touched him with the lighter, setting Loader ablaze, according to the testimony.
Loader sustained burns to 55% of his body — and had some of his sweat glands burnt off. He was placed in a medically induced coma for eight days after the attack, according to a victim impact statement read in court.
He required 10 operations and spent 74 days in a burn unit at Melbourne hospital, according to the statement.
The betrayed friend cannot step outside into the sun because of the extensive epidermal damage, the statement said.
Walpole told the court that she had been abusing drugs and alcohol since a break-up in 2022 and regretted the heartless act.
The firebug claimed during the trial that she was pushed to the edge by Loader who tried to wrestle with her and was being continuously antagonistic throughout the night, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
“To this day I feel horrible, remorseful, guilty for what I have done to Jake, not only Jake but his family, his loved ones, his mutual friends… anyone who has been impacted in this entire case,” Walpole told the court, according to the outlet.
“I find it very hard to believe the injuries that were caused was from my doing,” Walpole said, adding, “I would do anything to go back in time.”
She pleaded guilty to one charge of burning or maiming by using corrosive fluid, the ABC reported.
Walpole is due back in court this month for sentencing.
