Murderer’s Sickening Taunt to Dying Wife: ‘Why Didn’t You Stop Me?’ as He’s Jailed for Life Over Petrol Blaze that Killed Her and Left Teen Daughter with Horrific Burns
- A Melbourne man has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering his wife and attempting to kill his 16-year-old stepdaughter in a petrol-fueled blaze.
- Roland James Griffiths, 41, poured petrol on his wife and stepdaughter, setting them alight and leaving his stepdaughter with burns to over 50% of her body.
- The court heard how Griffiths taunted his victims, saying “I promise bub, I swear… I won’t do it” before setting them on fire.
Roland James Griffiths, a 41-year-old Melbourne man, has been sentenced to life in prison for the heinous murder of his wife, Kylie Sheahan, and the attempted murder of his 16-year-old stepdaughter. The brutal attack, which occurred in March 2022, saw Griffiths pour petrol on his wife and stepdaughter, setting them alight and leaving his stepdaughter with horrific burns to over 50% of her body.
The court heard how Griffiths had made threats to burn down the family home in the months leading up to the attack, and how he had been heavily intoxicated on the day of the blaze. In a chilling display of cruelty, Griffiths taunted his victims, saying “I promise bub, I swear… I won’t do it” before setting them on fire. When his stepdaughters begged him not to light the petrol, Griffiths callously replied, “Why didn’t you stop me, you should’ve stopped me and I should be in jail.”
The attack occurred in the family’s Albanvale home, where seven children were present. Two of Griffiths’ stepdaughters tried to intervene, but he ignored their pleas and set the petrol alight. The flames spread to his stepdaughter, who suffered severe burns as she tried to save her mother’s life. Griffiths extinguished the flames on himself before helping his wife, but not before the damage was done. Sheahan was dragged to the bathroom, given a cold shower, and then sprayed with a hose before being taken to hospital with burns to 91% of her body.
In a desperate bid to cover his tracks, Griffiths blamed his dying wife for the fire, telling her, “Why didn’t you stop me, you should’ve stopped me and I should be in jail.” Sheahan, in the early stages of dying, lied to police to protect Griffiths, saying he had tried to set himself on fire and she had caught alight while trying to stop him. Tragically, Sheahan succumbed to her injuries four days later, on March 18, 2022.
Analysis: What This Means for Australia
This shocking crime highlights the disturbing prevalence of domestic violence in Australia, where one woman is killed every week at the hands of a current or former partner. The brutal nature of Griffiths’ attack, coupled with his callous disregard for human life, serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of unchecked violence. As the nation grapples with the scourge of domestic violence, it is imperative that we prioritize support services for victims and hold perpetrators accountable for their heinous crimes.
Security analysts warn that cases like Griffiths’ underscore the need for increased funding for domestic violence support services and law enforcement initiatives aimed at combating family violence. Industry observers believe that a national conversation about toxic masculinity and its role in perpetuating violence is long overdue.
In the wake of this tragedy, it is crucial that we acknowledge the bravery of Sheahan’s children, who risked their lives to save their mother and sister. Their courage serves as a beacon of hope in the face of unimaginable horror.