A young woman has described the terrifying moment her abusive boyfriend doused her in petrol and set her on fire, saying: ‘I saw blood coming out of my arms.’
Kyesha Finemore was left in a coma after she was attacked by Brae Lewis in Marsden, south of Brisbane in May 2016 when she was only 17.
After Lewis was found guilty of a malicious act with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and jailed for 11 years, the brave teenager has chosen to speak out about her abuse.
A young woman has revealed the physical and emotional torment she has suffered since her boyfriend set her on fire
Brae Lewis pleaded guilty to dousing his girlfriend Kyesha Finemore in petrol before setting her alight in Marsden, south of Brisbane in May 2016
Speaking about the horrifying attack, she told Sunday Project reporter Lisa Wilkinson: ‘We were arguing and he threw the petrol at me and as he threw it he came around with the lighter and he lit it.’
Ms Finemore said she frantically patted her skin while ‘freaking out’ and thinking she was going to die.
‘I kinda froze, and looked down at my skin peeling and rolled all up and blood coming out of my arms and stuff,’ Ms Finemore said.
‘I remember just panicking and stopping and screaming the loudest scream I’ve ever done.’
Her boyfriend fled the house on a motorbike. ‘It really, really hurt, because he couldn’t even wait around for the ambulance to get there,’ Ms Finemore said.
‘He just that he was sorry and he left.’
Ms Finemore, then aged 17, was left in a coma and fighting for her life after the attack
The couple had been violently arguing for months before Lewis threw petrol on Ms Finemore and set her on fire.
‘I don’t see that you could do something so horrific to someone that you love,’ she said.
Her mother Melissa Cooke said the ordeal has been ‘stressful’.
Ms Finemore has used a Facebook page to post updates on her recovery.
At the time of the horrific attack, neighbours rushed to the house after hearing screams coming from the property.
The incident stemmed from an argument, before Lewis threw petrol on Ms Finemore and set her on fire
Her mother Melissa Cooke said the ordeal has been ‘stressful’. Ms Finemore has used a Facebook page to post updates on her recovery
Ms Finemore suffered severe burns to her arms, legs and upper body.
She was immediately taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital for treatment.
Lewis’ defence claimed he thought the can of petrol was closed when he threw it at Ms Finemore, and that he didn’t intend to set her on fire.
A jury took less than two hours to convict Lewis.
Ms Finemore (pictured) suffered severe burns to her arms, legs and upper body