Woman on fire: Shepparton case hits Supreme Court

Sep 25, 2024

A police officer guards the scene where it is alleged a woman set another woman on fire. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

A woman accused of setting another woman on fire in Shepparton has appeared in the Supreme Court for the first time.

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Earlier in September, Jordan Spencer, 33, of Shepparton, was committed to stand trial in the Supreme Court on charges of attempted murder, intentionally causing serious injury in circumstances of gross violence and intentionally causing serious injury.

The charges relate to an incident at Ms Spencer’s Shepparton house on January 15, where it is alleged she attempted to murder a woman by pouring accelerant on her head and using a lighter to ignite it.

At the end of the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court committal, Ms Spencer pleaded not guilty to all three charges.

In a directions hearing at the Melbourne Supreme Court on Wednesday, September 25, Ms Spencer’s defence barrister, James McQuillan, told the court it was not the act itself of setting the other woman on fire that was in dispute, but rather Ms Spencer’s intentions when she did so.

Prosecutor Michelle Arceri said a statement still needed to be taken from the alleged victim as she had not been able to make one yet “because of her injuries”.

“She’s out of hospital but still attends rehabilitation frequently,” Ms Arceri said.

In what was mainly a hearing to discuss the timeline for information to be given to opposition parties, Judicial Registrar Elizabeth Tueno said if the matter was still contested, Ms Spencer was likely to go to trial in Shepparton Supreme Court between May and August next year.

The matter has been listed again for a mention in the Supreme Court in October and there will be a further directions hearing in December.