Trial told of violence, paranoia

A VIOLENCE and paranoia-fuelled relationship ended when a man allegedly attempted to murder his female partner after she threatened to leave him, a court has heard.

The man has appeared for the first day of his Hobart Supreme Court trial to fight a charge of attempted murder from a night in early 2017.

Deputy Director of Prosecutions Linda Mason said it was alleged the man had thrown diesel and petrol over his partner and flicked his lighter on after she had made threats to end their relationship.

Ms Mason said the alleged act of attempted murder came about amid a relationship of “extreme toxicity” and claimed the man experienced paranoia, jealousy and a desire to control his partner.

But defence lawyer Greg Richardson claimed her horrific burns had stemmed from a “tragic accident”.

Mr Richardson claimed her burns were the result of a “highly emotional disturbed young woman who was making suicide threats that went wrong”.

Ms Mason said on the night of the alleged incident, the young woman had told her boyfriend over Facebook Messenger they were ending things.

Ms Mason read out an excerpt from the messages saying “we’re seriously done, I’ll get my stuff tomorrow and you will get yours”.

Ms Mason said the man allegedly took the woman to his parents’ house and told her to park her car in the driveway and have a cigarette with him.

The man allegedly locked the shed roller door and splashed liquid on to her while her back was turned, and he was alleged to have ignited the fuel after she refused to go into the main house with him.

She sustained serious burns to more than 50 per cent of her body, emerging from an induced coma weeks later.

The trial continues.