By ANEEKA SIMONIS
A MAN who made threats to kill people in Longwarry before burning down his Warragul home has been jailed.
John Findlay, 64, was handed a two-year prison sentence on Wednesday 2 September on charges of threatening to kill two people in addition to one count of arson and a threat to destroy property.
The County Court of Victoria heard Findlay began making threats toward Robert Berry, a friend of 40 years, over an outstanding debt.
Findlay made constant threats to kill his friend over the belief he was owed $910 from work carried out approximately 15 years earlier.
On Sunday 14 December last year, Findlay approached Mr Berry at the Longwarry Hotel, demanding the money from him.
After Mr Berry refused, Findlay told his long-term friend he was going to get a gun and shoot him over the supposed debt.
During the month, the court heard Findlay made a number of calls to his appointed financial trustees.
When refused money, Findlay threatened the person he was talking to as well as threatening to blow up the premises.
The day after threatening to kill Mr Berry, Findlay was again refused money from the trustee office.
He subsequently threatened to kill the solicitor who refused him money and made threats to burn down the Warragul house he lived in.
At approximately 11.15am on Monday 15 December, Findlay got a five-litre can of petrol from his garage, pouring it throughout the lounge room before setting it alight.
Findlay’s mother granted him ‘life interest’ at the property following her death in 2012.
Her wish was for the home to be passed on to her grandchildren when he died.
Findlay, who stood to watch the house burn to the ground, was heard to say “At least the kids can’t get it now,” the court heard.
Findlay was taken into custody at the scene and later conveyed to hospital for psychiatric treatment.
In hospital, Findlay again called his financial trustees with threats to kill staff and blow up their premises.
He also admitted that he had guns buried in the bush and knew how to make a bomb during police questioning in hospital.
Findlay pleaded guilty to all charges, despite telling the court he had no intention to carry out the threats made.
In addition to his two-year jail term, Findlay was handed a two-year community corrections order.
Judge Parrish noted Findlay had been convicted on a number of other charges, mostly involving the abuse of alcohol, and urged him to think twice about his actions in the future.
“If you do that again, you will be back here so quickly and it will be far, far more serious this time,” Judge Parrish said in sentencing Findlay.
