A 36-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly setting a New Zealand woman alight in a domestic violence incident south of Brisbane.
Destiny Otton-Rakuraku is fighting for her life at Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, surrounded by family.
She sustained life-threatening burns and has been unable to speak to police.
Emergency services were called to a home on Kingston Court in Kingston, south of Brisbane, on Saturday.
Witnesses reported hearing the woman’s screams and ran towards the property.
Police say the man and woman, who attended school together in Auckland's Ōtāhuhu before moving to Queensland, were involved in an altercation before he allegedly poured an accelerant on her before using a lighter to set her on fire.
The man, who 7News has reported is the victim's ex-partner, has been charged with attempted murder, common assault and breaching a domestic violence order, AAP reported.
Renata Edward Manning was not required to appear in person or via videolink in Beenleigh Magistrates Court today for the first mention of his charges.
Otton-Rakuraku's mother Alison Rakuraku told 7News of her devastation.
“But she’s strong, so we will be strong for our girl.”
The support worker has two teenage boys, a GoFundMe page set up to support her and her family said.
'Shocking'
Queensland's Minister for Domestic Violence, Amanda Camm, described the incident as a "shocking example of alleged family violence," offering her sympathies to the victim and her loved ones.
"Every Queenslander has the right to feel safe in their own home, but too many have been living in fear behind closed doors for too long," she said.
"We must work together to urgently end the scourge of domestic violence across Queensland."
Camm added that she plans to "bolster the oversight of domestic and family violence reform."
In a press conference on Sunday, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli expressed sorrow over the incident.
“To the family, to the neighbours, to the first responders, to every Queenslander—these are the kinds of incidents that rock communities."
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