Homeless arsonist release

A HOMELESS man who does not believe he is mentally ill will be released from jail this week after lighting three fires at Kingston on the same day.

Peter Bill Zawackyj, who has been in custody for 10 months, has confessed to the blazes on May 3 last year, beginning when he set fire to some cardboard boxes and bags of rubbish at the Kingborough Medical Centre.

The blaze spread and caused about $3000 worth of damage to the building.

But Chief Justice Alan Blow accepted Zawackyj didn’t intend that outcome.

Zawackyj subsequently set fire to some Salvation Army donation bins, with the blaze quickly extinguished by nearby tradesmen.

The firestarter then broke in to Leap Health Centre, a physiotherapy and massage business, igniting some papers he found on the building’s lower level.

The same tradesmen saw the blaze and alerted firefighters.

Chief Justice Blow said with this fire, Zawackyj did understand it was likely the building would catch alight.

“That fire caused about $5,000 worth of damage,” he said. “There is no logical reason why you should have started these fires.”

Chief Justice Blow imposed a sentence allowing Zawackyj to walk free by this Saturday at the latest, noting although psychiatrists said he was mentally ill, the arsonist did not agree with them.

“The time has come for you to be let out,” the judge said.

Zawackyj, who pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawfully setting fire to property and one count of arson, was given a 12-month jail term with eight weeks suspended.

He was also given a 12month community correction order with medical, psychological or psychiatric help, as directed by his probation officer.

“I hope you are able to stay on the medication,” the judge said. “I hope you are able to get some help from the probation officer. I hope they take you in at Bethlehem House.”