Adelaide man Cecil Weetra who set partner on fire has been sentenced to 14 years for attempted murder

A man who doused his partner in petrol and set her on fire has been sentenced to at least 14 years in prison for attempted murder.

Adelaide man Cecil Spencer Weetra was found guilty by a jury of the attack in March 2021, in which his victim suffered severe burns to 40 percent of her body.

She also sustained injuries to her lungs and will require further surgery as part of her rehabilitation.

At the sentencing of Weetra on Tuesday, Supreme Court Justice Sandi McDonald said the woman was lucky to have survived the attempt on her life that took place during a short but unstable relationship.

After some time of being physically assaulted, the woman had decided to leave the house where they lived in northern Adelaide.

Weetra didn’t want her to go and the couple argued.

That culminated in him getting some gasoline from behind the house, dousing his victim, and then lighting the fumes with a cigarette lighter.

At his trial, Weetra told the jury that the woman self-inflicted the injuries, but Judge McDonald said she was not surprised that the version of events was rejected.

The judge said Weetra’s lies showed a lack of remorse or remorse on behalf of the 45-year-old, who had a long history of crimes dating back to when he was 14.

“To this day you have failed to hold yourself accountable for your actions,” Judge McDonald said.

“The nature and circumstances of the crime you have committed are such that any punishment I impose must expose your conduct and deter both yourself and other members of the community from engaging in such abhorrent conduct.

“Your criminal history, your complete absence of remorse and remorse, and the lack of any explanation for your abusive behavior also make you a poor candidate for rehabilitation.”

The judge sentenced Weetra to 18 years in prison and a non-parole period of 14 years.

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