Australian Church Arson

Australia's News.com.au has issued the following report: A priest whose century-old church was burned to the ground by a drunken teenage heavy metal fan said today he was satisfied with the three-year sentence the arsonist received. Reverend Ron Rosinsky said a "lingering sadness" remained in his Melbourne congregation following the loss of the St Albans Uniting Church in August last year. The damage bill for the 109-year-old church has been put at more than $3 million, but Mr Rosinsky said his congregation was focused on forgiveness. He said parishioners also wanted to play a role in the rehabilitation of 19-year-old Novak Majstorovic (photo), of St Albans, who was sentenced today in Victoria's County Court. He admitted to one count each of burglary and arson, which carry maximum terms of 10 and 15 years imprisonment. Judge Jeanette Morrish instead imposed the maximum penalty of three years in a youth correctional facility on the arson charge plus a concurrent six-month term for the burglary. "I am satisfied," Mr Rosinsky said noting that Judge Morrish had not imposed a term in an adult prison. "My personal opinion is that it is the best sentence, given the circumstances, as the chances of rehabilitation are close to non-existent in prison." The court heard today that Majstorovic had agreed to undergo counselling, and other treatment, if sent to a juvenile facility. Mr Rosinsky said this would also give the church more options for communication with Majstorovic. "We're very keen to do that, to develop a rapport with him ... we just feel he has been so disconnected," he said. "There is a lingering sadness (about the loss of the church) but we're moving ahead and applying the ideals of rehabilitation and healing to the situation." The court heard Majstorovic was the sole carer of his mother, who has schizophrenia, that he was an isolated and impressionable young man and he had taken on the anti-church beliefs espoused by the band BURZUM. Majstorovic believed religion created "weak" people, he viewed churches as a symbol of many of society's problems and he also told a friend that he alone had "the balls" to act. Shortly before the church fire, Majstorovic drunkenly told friends at a party that he was leaving to burn down a church. Judge Morrish told Majstorovic today he was not being punished for his alternative views but for his crimes. "You are being sentenced on the basis of unlawful conduct," she said. "... You harboured thoughts about committing such a crime and you seized the opportunity to act on it while at the party."