Dad torches house because wife didn't make him lunch; wife and daughters suffer burns (Melbourne, Australia)

Father RAJAH THEIVENERAEAS was peeved because his wife hadn't promptly served his lunch, so he poured gasoline (petrol in Australia) on the staircase and lit it on fire. The wife and daughters suffered minor burns. Of course, Daddy had been drinking too, which might have been part of the problem. That, and being a bullying idiot.

Father torches home after failure to make him lunch
July 27, 2009 - 11:35AM

A Melbourne father who tried to burn down his house while his daughters and wife were inside has been jailed for four years.

Angry his wife had failed to make him lunch, Rajah Theiveneraeas, 54, poured petrol on a staircase and set it alight. His wife and daughters, aged 21 and 16, were forced to flee through the flames.

They suffered superficial burns.

The court heard Theiveneraeas had been drinking heavily on the day before the fire and had an argument with his eldest daughter about respect.

Victorian County Court Judge John Nixon said Theiveneraeas was out of control but not psychiatrically disturbed.

"It was an inexcusable, senseless, destructive and dangerous criminal act on your part," he said.

Theiveneraeas must serve a minimum two years and three months in prison before being eligible for parole.

AAP