Woman doused friend in fuel, set him alight for misogynistic comment, court hearsBy Erin SomervilleABC Goulburn MurrayTopic:Courts27m ago27 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 8:06amCorbie Walpole arrives at court on Thursday. (ABC Goulburn Murray: Philippe Perez)In short: Corbie Jean Walpole poured fuel on her friend and set him alight after he made a misogynistic comment. The court heard Ms Walpole suffered from depression and substance abuse. What's next? She will return to court for sentencing later this month. abc.net.au/news/corbie-walpole-sentenced-burning-jake-loader-howlong-sentence/105265038Link copiedShareShare articleA woman who angrily doused an "old friend" in petrol and set him alight for making a misogynistic comment was suffering from depression and substance abuse, a court has heard.Corbie Jean Walpole, 24, earlier pleaded guilty to one charge of burning or maiming by using corrosive fluid.Her victim, Jake Loader, was 23 when he was found with life-threatening burns at a southern New South Wales home in Howlong on January 7 last year.Walpole tearfully appeared before the Albury District Court today expecting to be sentenced.Violent responseThe lifelong friendship between Walpole and Mr Loader became strained by antagonistic behaviour between the pair in the hours before she set him alight, the court heard.Corbie Walpole (left) walks into the Albury District Court on Thursday. (ABC Goulburn Murray: Philippe Perez)Mr Loader and Walpole had been partying in Howlong with friends and returned to her backyard about 5am to keep drinking.Most of the group was heavily intoxicated, and Walpole had consumed cocaine.Jake Loader sustained life-threatening burns in Howlong. (Supplied: GoFundMe)Walpole had described Mr Loader as being antagonistic towards her throughout the night, trying to wrestle her and wake her sleeping boyfriend."I was feeling overwhelmed by [Mr Loader's] presence and I didn't know what to do," she told the court.Her anger then flared when Mr Loader told her she should stay in the kitchen making scones where she belonged, and not to go drinking with boys.Corbie Walpole (centre) arrives at court in Albany with family members. (ABC Goulburn Murray: Philippe Perez)She left the table where they were drinking to collect a five-litre container of petrol from her garage, and poured it on Mr Loader before waving around her lighter.Mr Loader said, "Go on, do it," before Walpole set him on fire.'Pushed her over the edge'The court heard that Walpole had been in a relationship at the time that had left her feeling trapped and depressed, and led to her abusing drugs and alcohol from late 2022.Her legal representative, Peter Neil SC, said Walpole had been antagonised by Mr Loader consistently throughout the night, which "pushed her over the edge"."She simply had completely lost it," he said.Mr Neil said the incident was exacerbated by her drug and alcohol abuse.Crown prosecutor Max Pincott said Walpole had plenty of time to calm down."You could have walked away from this, couldn't you, but you didn't," he said.Mr Pincott said Walpole's actions were so far beyond reasonable proportion that there was no argument of provocation.'No one deserves what happened'Walpole sobbed intensely on the witness stand as she described the shock of her own violent actions."To this day I feel horrible, remorseful, guilty for what I have done to Jake, not only Jake but his family, his loved ones, his mutual friends … anyone who has been impacted in this entire case," she said.Corbie Walpole attended sentencing the Albury District Court. (ABC News: Annie Brown)"I find it very hard to believe the injuries that were caused was from my doing."I would do anything to go back in time."No one deserves what happened to Jake and I can't imagine the pain — both physically and emotionally — that I've caused him and his family."Life turned 'upside down'Mr Loader did not attend court but his victim impact statement read by the Crown highlighted how the crime had traumatised his life.Mr Loader sustained burns to 55 per cent of his body, was in an induced coma for eight days, spent 74 days in a burns unit at Melbourne's Prince Alfred Hospital, and underwent 10 surgeries.Mr Loader can no longer expose his skin to the sun, and struggles with temperature regulation as his sweat glands were burnt off.He also lost income, and financial pressure was put on his family who travelled to be with him."This attack did not only hurt me, it hurt everyone who cared about me," his statement read.Walpole is due to return to court for sentencing later this month.Posted 27m ago27 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 8:06amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesSecond minister booted from cabinet as PM prepares reshuffleLIVEPhoto shows Ed Husic wearing a blue suit sitting in an office.More women in Labor than ever but top jobs still going to menBAnalysis by Brett WorthingtonPhoto shows Anika Wells Amanda Rishworth Katie Gallagher Anne AlyGreens leader Adam Bandt concedes seat, ending 15 years in parliamentTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows Adam Bandt press gallery doorstopHow one mother's grief and love captured hearts across AustraliaCAnalysis by Cason HoPhoto shows A woman sits in front of a microphone on a dimly lit stage with an emotional expression.'Wish we did better': The timeline of confusion during Westfield Bondi Junction attackTopic:CrimePhoto shows Paramedics stand with stretches near vehicles on a road.Related storiesWoman charged over burning, maiming man with corrosive fluids in southern NSWTopic:CrimePhoto shows A man rides a bike with cattle behind himRelated topicsAlburyCourtsTop StoriesSecond minister booted from cabinet as PM prepares reshuffleTopic:Government and PoliticsPhoto shows Ed Husic wearing a blue suit sitting in an office.More women in Labor than ever but top jobs still going to menBAnalysis by Brett WorthingtonGreens leader Adam Bandt concedes seat, ending 15 years in parliamentTopic:ElectionsHow one mother's grief and love captured hearts across AustraliaCAnalysis by Cason Ho'Wish we did better': The timeline of confusion during Westfield Bondi Junction attackTopic:CrimeJust InCabinet ministers Mark Dreyfus, Ed Husic scrapped from new Albanese ministryTopic:Political Leadership22m ago22 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 8:11amWoman doused friend in fuel, set him alight over misogynistic commentTopic:Courts27m ago27 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 8:06am'Feels like a tipping point': India and Pakistan diaspora grapple with Kashmir conflictTopic:Unrest, Conflict and War49m ago49 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 7:44amQueensland appoints first mining coroner amid inquest backlogTopic:Mining and Metals Industry54m ago54 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 7:38amMore Just InBack to top