Woman ‘doused in petrol and set on fire while trying to stop house party’
A young woman was covered in petrol and set on fire after complaining about a neighbour’s rowdy house party, reports say.
The 32-year-old from New Zealand was left with serious burns after the incident at around 2am in Melbourne.
‘The last I heard of anything was when my mates left around 12 and the music was loud but definitely not blasting or anything,’ a neighbour, who didn’t give their name, told Daily Mail Australia.
‘You couldn’t hear it in the house.’
A man claiming to be the victim’s brother said she had got into an argument with two people at the party.
He said she was trying to diffuse the situation when she was suddenly doused with petrol, local media reports.
Two other people received minor injuries during the incident.
Victoria Police confirmed a 43-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman were assisting them in their enquiries.
The investigation is being led by the Arson and Explosives Squad.
Not everyone believes the incident stemmed from a noise complaint, with some believing it was a domestic dispute.
Another neighbour said: ‘We haven’t heard anything about a complaint or a fight breaking out.’
Police have remained at the crime scene and cordoned off the section of grass where the woman was allegedly attacked.
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