Arabic version: تحدي والبول لعقوبة السجن لمدة سبع سنوات بتهمة إشعال النار في صديقها

Corbie Jean Walpole, 25, is appealing her jail sentence of more than seven years for setting her friend on fire during a night of heavy drinking. The incident occurred in January 2024 when Walpole poured petrol on Jake Loader and ignited him following a misogynistic remark he made. Loader suffered severe injuries, including third-degree burns covering about 60% of his body, and spent more than a week in an induced coma.

According to ABC News, Walpole’s appeal is currently being heard in the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal. Her legal team contends that the sentencing judge, Judge Jennifer English, did not adequately consider psychiatric evidence regarding Walpole’s mental health at the time of the incident, which they argue impaired her judgment.

During a 90-minute hearing, defence barrister Philip Boncardo claimed that Walpole was not given procedural fairness, as the court allegedly rejected an uncontested psychological opinion linking her depressive disorder to her actions. Furthermore, he stated that Walpole developed post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the incident, which should have been factored into the sentencing.

Crown prosecutor Monika Knowles countered that there was no procedural unfairness and emphasized that the evidence presented had conflicting aspects. She argued that the severe intoxication from alcohol and drugs was a significant factor in Walpole’s decision-making, pointing out that she had consumed between 23 to 35 standard drinks and had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.22 to 0.386 during the event.

The Justices of the Court of Criminal Appeal have reserved their decision, leaving the outcome of Walpole’s appeal pending.