Jury hears of gruesome fire attack

Dana Vulin, who was set on fire and suffered horrific burns at her Rivervale apartment. Picture: Channel Nine Source: PerthNow

A WOMAN suffered potentially fatal burns to more than half her body after she was set alight with methylated spirits by an acquaintance who was convinced she was having an affair with her estranged husband, the District Court has heard.

Natalie Dimitrovska, 29, is on trial for the grievous bodily harm of Dana Vulin, who was set on fire in her Rivervale apartment in February 2012. Ms Vulin suffered full thickness burns to 60 per cent of her body and is receiving ongoing treatment.

Ms Dimitrovska has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Prosecutor Linda Petrusa told the jury that the attack was the culmination of weeks of harassment from Ms Dimitrovska, who believed her husband Edin Handanovic was staying at Ms Vulin's apartment.

Ms Petrusa said Dimitrovska had previously told Ms Vulin she would "ruin her pretty little face'' and two days before the attack stormed into the apartment demanding to know where her husband was hiding.

Ms Vulin had fallen asleep on her couch after a visit from a friend and woke up to the voice of a woman in house who said, "Hello Dana". She claims a man, Daniel Stone, was also there.

After an argument, the two women were in the kitchen of the apartment, with Ms Vulin holding a meth burner.

The court was told Dimitrovska then said: "Tell me where he is or I'm going to light you on fire'' and then threw a bottle of methylated spirits onto Ms Vulin, which ignited.

"When Ms Vulin woke up that morning she had no idea her life would change forever,'' Ms Petrusa said.

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Jury hears of gruesome fire attack