A man who threw a Molotov cocktail into a Sydney home, leading to the death of a 13-year-old boy, has been sentenced to more than a decade in prison, closing a chapter on a crime that has haunted a family for over a quarter of a century.
A Catastrophic Act of Arson
In April 1998, Gregory John Walker, then aged 30, launched a firebomb into the kitchen of a house in the inner-city suburb of Waterloo. The property was hosting a sleepover, and Arthur Haines was asleep on the top floor, excited for a planned trip to the Royal Easter Show the following day.
The resulting blaze spread with terrifying speed. Justice Hament Dhanji of the NSW Supreme Court described the outcome as 'catastrophic'. Trapped on the third floor as flames engulfed the building, Arthur was forced to jump from a window. He suffered burns to 65 per cent of his body and died in hospital 11 weeks later.
A Long Road to Justice
Walker, now 58, was sentenced on Tuesday to a maximum term of 10 years and nine months for manslaughter. He kept his eyes downcast as the sentence was delivered, more than 27 years after his deadly actions.
The court heard that in the fire's immediate aftermath, Walker demonstrated a 'callous disregard'. When a neighbour confronted him, accusing him of starting the blaze, Walker chillingly replied: 'If you think that was a big fire, wait until you see my next one.'
Justice Dhanji noted that Walker, a former boxer with an extensive criminal history, had only admitted to unlawfully killing Arthur in October 2023, on the eve of a trial for murder. He was arrested after NSW Police offered a $1 million reward for information in 2020.
Remorse and a Mother's Agony
The judge acknowledged that Walker had shown subsequent remorse and had taken steps to turn his life around, including establishing a not-for-profit for young people. 'There is an element of him attempting to make good on his past wrongs,' Justice Dhanji said.
However, this was weighed against the profound and enduring grief of Arthur's family. His mother, Julie Szabo, fought for justice for decades, ensuring her son was not forgotten. In a victim impact statement, she spoke of the heavy guilt she carried since allowing Arthur his first sleepover.
'I gave him the biggest hug, we both said we loved each other, I didn't know at the time it would be one of our last hugs,' she wrote.
Justice Dhanji thanked Ms Szabo and acknowledged the community's pain, stating 'No sentence I impose can right the wrong that has been done.' With time already served, Walker will be eligible for parole in February 2029.
