WARNING: This story contains details some people may find distressing.
A man who set fire to his estranged wife in the Perth Hills, forcing her to jump in a creek to douse the flames, has been found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm.
Peter John Moiler, 44, has been on trial in the District Court over the attack in Mount Helena in June 2023.
Moiler’s wife Kirsten Moiler told the court her husband had thrown a star picket “like a javelin” through the driver’s open side window of the car she was sitting in.
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He then sprayed some kind of fuel on her and she heard a “flick” as blue and yellow flames began running up her chest, she testified.
“Felt like my skin was being ripped off,” she told the court.
No help from husband
Ms Moiler described how she got out of the car and took her clothes off, because she didn’t want them to stick to her.
Instead of helping her, her estranged husband only said “what’s wrong bub?”
Peter Moiler set his estranged wife on fire in Mt Helena. (Facebook: Peter Moiler)
She jumped in a nearby creek in an attempt to douse the flames as Moiler left the scene.
Ms Moiler spent more than two months in hospital receiving treatment for severe burns.
The court heard of repeated incidents of abuse during the relationship.
Whiteboard of abuse
Ms Moiler said she once endured hours of verbal “ear bashing”, and began keeping a record of the abuse on a whiteboard.
Man denies setting wife on fire, court hears
A photo of the whiteboard shown in court included a range of offensive insults hurled at her.
However, she and Peter Moiler had remained together until just before the fire, when they had started living apart.
Moiler told the court that earlier on the day he attacked her, she had gone to both Mundaring police station and Midland courthouse to seek a violence restraining order [VRO] against him.
It “felt like it was a really dangerous time”, she told the court, and there was a “repetitive theme that he would kill me”.
She did the paperwork but felt let down when the VRO could not be issued immediately.
The jury deliberated for only a few hours after an eight day trial.
‘She’s doing really well’
Family members of Kirsten Moiler who were in court for the verdict said they were “ecstatic” justice had been served.
“Just happy that she’ll finally be safe,” Kirsten’s partner Amber Goddard said.
“Knowing that he’s not going to be out, and that she can just move on with her life now, her and her kids and her family and she’s finally free of all this crap.”
Ms Goddard said Kirsten was still having to undergo surgeries.
From left: Kirsten Moiler’s mother Fiona Halton, her partner Amber Goddard and brother Tyler Halton. (ABC News: David Weber)
“Her health is so much better now, she’s done nothing but excel,” she said.
“She’s doing really well, considering.”
She had advice for anyone who found themselves in an abusive relationship: “Just go.”
Kirsten’s mother Fiona Halton said she wanted to thank the justice system.
“And on the note of domestic violence, women or men suffering, please get help as soon as possible and make a plan,” Ms Halton said.
Peter Moiler faces a sentencing hearing on Friday.
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