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A Melbourne youth church leader said he was possessed and couldn't control his "sexual demons" when he raped a 14-year-old girl, poured petrol on her and set her alight.
Michael Tuano Hermogenes told police after his arrest he was branded a "sex **** demon" and found the "sexual demons" hard to control.
He said he tried to kill the girl whom he met through a church group for "self-preservation".
"I was possessed and in a drunken state," he told them.
Justice Paul Coghlan told the Victorian Supreme Court on Monday it was one of the worst possible cases of attempted murder.
Hermogenes, 25, plied the girl with alcohol before choking her with one of her stockings, raping her, taking photos of her while she was naked and unconscious then setting her and her house alight to hide his crimes, the court heard.
She suffered permanent injuries including burns to half her body, amputation of her right toes and spent almost a year in hospital.
She cannot eat, drink, shower or go to the toilet alone and uses a wheelchair to get around. She will never be able to drive.
Defence barrister Peter Chadwick asked Justice Paul Coghlan not to impose a crushing sentence on Hermogenes, given his youth, lack of criminal history and remorse.
He said there was nothing in his background that could explain his crimes.
But Justice Coghlan said it was one of the worst cases of attempted murder and Hermogenes' likelihood of sexual reoffending was "bleak".
"Had this poor young woman died, this would be a life imprisonment. That's the level of seriousness," he said.
Hermogenes pleaded guilty to charges including arson, attempted murder and rape over the attack at the girl's home in Melbourne's west in May 2010.
The court heard Hermogenes and the girl communicated via SMS on the morning of the attack and she wagged school so they could meet.
Prosecutor Andrew Grant told the pre-sentence hearing setting fire to the girl was one of the most horrific ways Hermogenes could have chosen to end her life.
Mr Grant said the crime involved some planning, with Hermogenes leaving the girl naked and unconscious in her home while he went out to buy the matches and petrol he needed to set her alight.
Mr Grant asked the judge to consider the horrific impact on the girl and her family and the dramatic effect Hermogenes' actions will continue to have on her life.
Mr Chadwick described his client as an immature man whose crimes were opportunistic.
He said there was no suggestion his client intended to force himself on the girl and that it was she who removed her school uniform.
Justice Coghlan said the effects of Hermogenes' crimes were profound and the girl and her family had shown great dignity.
Hermogenes, of Tarneit, was remanded in custody for sentencing on July 29.
Source: AP
Michael Tuano Hermogenes told police after his arrest he was branded a "sex **** demon" and found the "sexual demons" hard to control.
He said he tried to kill the girl whom he met through a church group for "self-preservation".
"I was possessed and in a drunken state," he told them.
Justice Paul Coghlan told the Victorian Supreme Court on Monday it was one of the worst possible cases of attempted murder.
Hermogenes, 25, plied the girl with alcohol before choking her with one of her stockings, raping her, taking photos of her while she was naked and unconscious then setting her and her house alight to hide his crimes, the court heard.
She suffered permanent injuries including burns to half her body, amputation of her right toes and spent almost a year in hospital.
She cannot eat, drink, shower or go to the toilet alone and uses a wheelchair to get around. She will never be able to drive.
Defence barrister Peter Chadwick asked Justice Paul Coghlan not to impose a crushing sentence on Hermogenes, given his youth, lack of criminal history and remorse.
He said there was nothing in his background that could explain his crimes.
But Justice Coghlan said it was one of the worst cases of attempted murder and Hermogenes' likelihood of sexual reoffending was "bleak".
"Had this poor young woman died, this would be a life imprisonment. That's the level of seriousness," he said.
Hermogenes pleaded guilty to charges including arson, attempted murder and rape over the attack at the girl's home in Melbourne's west in May 2010.
The court heard Hermogenes and the girl communicated via SMS on the morning of the attack and she wagged school so they could meet.
Prosecutor Andrew Grant told the pre-sentence hearing setting fire to the girl was one of the most horrific ways Hermogenes could have chosen to end her life.
Mr Grant said the crime involved some planning, with Hermogenes leaving the girl naked and unconscious in her home while he went out to buy the matches and petrol he needed to set her alight.
Mr Grant asked the judge to consider the horrific impact on the girl and her family and the dramatic effect Hermogenes' actions will continue to have on her life.
Mr Chadwick described his client as an immature man whose crimes were opportunistic.
He said there was no suggestion his client intended to force himself on the girl and that it was she who removed her school uniform.
Justice Coghlan said the effects of Hermogenes' crimes were profound and the girl and her family had shown great dignity.
Hermogenes, of Tarneit, was remanded in custody for sentencing on July 29.
Source: AP