A man was jailed after he locked his family into a shed and set it on fire, police in Australia said.
24-year-old Shannon Guterres of Sydney, returned to his home after a
three-day drug binge and went into a shed that had been converted into a
living space for the family.
He locked his 61-year-old father, his mother, 31-year-old brother Kevin, and his sister-in-law inside the shed.
He then poured a flammable substance over the shed and set it on fire.
The Campbelltown Local Court heard how the victims could feel the heat
of the flames through the metal door and saw flames coming in through
the window.
Guterres fled as the shed was engulfed in flames. The family was desperately looking for a way to escape.
Kevin finally managed to kick the door of the shed down and they all managed to escape.
The court heard that Guterres, had been using ice for three days and he
told police that he heard voices in his head that told him to kill
himself and his family.
However, he claimed that he was not trying to hurt his family and that he loves them.
Kevin pleaded guilty to property damage by fire with intent to injure and was sentenced to two years in prison.
