Car torch death teen out in weeks

A Perth teenager who torched a car in which his friend, who was trapped inside, died could walk free from detention within weeks after he was sentenced yesterday.

The 17-year-old was acquitted of manslaughter after a Supreme Court trial in July but pleaded guilty to arson.

The judge, Commissioner Kevin Sleight, ordered the boy to serve at least half of an 18-month detention sentence, but with time already served he could be released by the end of this month.

The boy’s lawyer, Simon Freitag, told the court his client might have to move interstate after release because of “credible and severe” threats from members of the victim’s family.

The offender and his 16-yearold friend, neither of whom can be named for legal reasons, were drunk when they broke into a Holden Astra parked at Bassendean Village Shopping Centre in September last year.

The 17-year-old set fire to the vehicle to get rid of fingerprints.

Commissioner Sleight said that although the teen was not found to be criminally responsible for his friend’s death, the incident demonstrated how dangerous arson was.