The co-owner of the only supermarket in a small WA country town burnt down his service at the height of the COVID pandemic due to the fact that he was “obsessed” with the virus and was being put under pressure by upset customers and out-of-town panic purchasers, a Perth court has been told.
Bottom line:
- Edward Mason was concerned he had been contaminated with COVID-19
- He was also under pressure from panic purchasers and mad consumers
- The court discovered the pandemic had a direct impact on Mason’s behaviour
On the night of March 25 this year, Edward Man Mason, 57, went to his store in Bruce Rock, 240 kilometres east of Perth, packed three shopping trolleys with cardboard and set them on fire, prior to trying to take his own life.
He then left the building and locked himself out, prior to strolling house, where he was later detained.
Passers-by saw the fire and informed authorities, but the supermarket and an adjoining hardware store, owned by Mas