- Home of Jordan Shark targeted in 2022
- Gasoline is said to have been used in the arson
Gasoline was used in an arson attack on the FriendlyJordies home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. This was the second attempt to burn down the comedian’s home in a week, according to court documents.
The Bondi home of Jordan Shanks, better known as FriendlyJordies, was the target of two deliberately set fires in November 2022.
Mr Shanks was not at home when it was set on fire for a second time on November 22, with the fire burning the veranda, front door and front bedroom.
His house was declared uninhabitable due to the damage, while an adjacent building also suffered smoke damage.
Andre Stepanyan, 38, was indicted in June for his alleged role in the second fire and is accused of being one of three men involved in setting the property on fire.
He has been charged with destroying company property using fire and participating in a criminal group. He was released on bail earlier this month after an application to the NSW Supreme Court.
Police have alleged he was a member of an outlaw motorcycle gang, but the court heard he claimed he was never a fully patched member.
In addition, his lawyer Bianca Barnes told the court earlier this month that he had since “broke away from the gang.”
The home of Jordan Shanks, better known as FriendlyJordies, was the target of two deliberately set fires in November 2022.
Andre Stepanyan was charged over the second fire. Image: supplied/Instagram.
According to allegations in a statement of police facts tendered to the High Court, it is alleged that Mr Stepanyan, his co-accused Tufi Junior Tauese-Auelua and another man, who has yet to be identified, set fire to Mr Shanks’ home. just after midnight on November 23.
It is alleged that on the evening of November 22, 2022, Stepanyan drove his white Holden Caprice sedan to Rhodes where he met a group of men.
They then drove in his car to the Bondi area where they switched vehicles to a stolen black Mercedes, which had cloned number plates.
Police have alleged that just after midnight three men – including Mr Stepanyan – got out of the stolen car and “poured a liquid accelerant over a table on the verandah” of Mr Shanks’ Bondi home, setting it on fire .
Three men were seen running from the scene into the Mercedes Benz and the alarm went off when a resident was woken by the smell of smoke.
One resident tried to extinguish the fire with a garden hose, but emergency services had to be called as the flames grew out of control.
Jordan Shanks’ Bondi home was damaged in the attack.
Stepanyan was arrested in June and the court heard the case will not go to trial until October next year.
He has yet to enter pleas.
Due to the damage, the house was declared uninhabitable and an adjacent building also suffered smoke damage.
Forensic analysis found traces of petrol at the scene and when the Mercedes Benz was found abandoned, a bottle containing a small amount of petrol was found inside.
Shanks’ home was first damaged on November 17.
According to court documents, Shanks woke up to a bright light outside his living room window after his doormat was set on fire.
He used water to extinguish the small fire and reported it to the police the next day.
There were also scorch marks in his bathroom, an open window and burnt out sparklers were found at the scene.
Jordan Shanks’ home was targeted in two arsons. Photo: NewsWire/Damian Shaw.
Judge Sarah McNaughton agreed earlier this month to release Mr Stepanyan on conditional bail, including being of good behavior, reporting to police daily and adhering to house arrest.
He is also not allowed to go within one kilometer of the crime scene, use encrypted apps or enter any international departure point.
He will appear in court again in November.