Kyesha Finemore has spent two years recovering from the physical and emotional pain her ex-boyfriend caused her when he set her alight during an argument at their Queensland home. Yesterday, she saw him convicted over the attack that left her with horrific burns and fighting for her life.
In May 2016, then-17-year-old Brae Taylor Lewis threw petrol at his girlfriend while outside their home in Marsden, Logan. He then set her alight.
“I remember being in scorching pain after the flames were put off,” Kyesha told Seven News outside Beenleigh District Court on Thursday.
The attack left Kyesha, then 17, with serious burns to her arms, legs and upper body. Her injuries were so severe that she had to be placed in an induced coma for 24 hours at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.
“I was in hospital for about a week and then because my heart was so weak I couldn’t go for a surgery. I had to heal first and then I had to go back through it all again because I had to go for surgery. I went for three.”
And while the teen's body eventually healed, she was left with physical - and emotional - scars, which she says are "horrible to live with".
"[It's] nervewracking. There are days that I walk out of my house and I have to walk straight back in because I don’t want to be stared at," she said.
"I'll go get a jumper or a cardigan - just something to cover up the worst parts."
However, she remains positive.
"You just gotta remind yourself, you know, you’re going to have bad days always, but you can get through it."
While speaking to reporters, Kyesha wanted to send a clear message to those deciding her former partner-of-two-years' fate.
"It was really heartbreaking," she said.
"I don’t see that you could do something so horrific to someone that you love.
"If he could do it to someone, someone that was so close to him, he could do it to anyone."
Kyesha was in court when a jury gave their verdict after hearing the prosecutions evidence and Lewis' defence. Seven News reports it took the jury just two hours to determine he was guilty of intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The man's lawyers had claimed he didn't know the jerry can was open when he threw it and hadn't intended to set Kyesha alight - but the jury ultimately rejected this claim.
On Friday, Lewis will return to court to be sentenced.
Kyesha - who hopes her story will encourage others in abusive relationships to get help - will be waiting to see if justice is served.
For 24-hour assistance please call the National National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800 RESPECT (that’s 1800 737 732).
Top Comments
I really don’t understand how this isn’t attempted murder !!!
because we don't value young women's lives I think.
With attempted murder the prosecution must be able to prove that the accused had the intent to kill. The key being "intent". That is harder to prove than grievous bodily harm, where you only have to prove that the offender caused the injury and that it caused grievous harm. Sometimes police/prosecution will go for the lesser charge to try and ensure the offender is punished as it is more likely a jury will find them guilty of that offence.