On Saturday, January 18, around 7:45 a.m., police and emergency services were called to a home in Kingston,
a suburb of Brisbane.
They found a woman with severe burns on her body... Continue reading here ▶
According to a statement from
Queensland Police, a 36-year-old man from Kingston allegedly used a lighter to set the 34-year-old woman on
fire.
He has been charged with attempted murder, common assault, and breaching a domestic violence order.
Police say they first responded to reports of an “altercation” between the man and the woman. Paramedics
treated the injured woman at the scene and then took her to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in
serious condition.
Australian media outlets identified her as Destiny Otton-Rakuraku, and
the man charged as Renata Edward Manning, who is said to be her former partner.
Authorities believe the man poured a flammable substance on the woman before lighting her on fire.
Her
mother, Alison Rakuraku, told reporters she was “numb” and “devastated” but added that
her daughter is strong and they will remain strong for her.
A GoFundMe page set up to support Otton-Rakuraku says she is the oldest of seven children and a mother of
two teenage boys.
Funds raised will go toward her medical bills, ongoing care, rent, and support for her
children and pets. The fundraiser had collected more than $19,836 (nearly $32,000 AUD) by Monday, January 20.
The case had a brief hearing at the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Monday, January 20, but Manning did not
attend.
Police opposed bail, and Manning is scheduled to appear in court again in March. Neither the Beenleigh
Magistrates Court nor Queensland Police immediately responded to a request for additional information.
